More on Gull Lake, More on Antique Hunting

NOTE: ANTIQUE HUNTING DAILY COLUMN - "OIL LAMPS I HAVE KNOWN" - APPEARS BELOW "GULL LAKE PARK" BLOG

THE GULL LAKE PARK PROPOSAL - I DON'T LIKE

THE AGENDA - A PROJECT WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT - BEFORE ANYTHING IS "SHOVEL READY"

I DON'T NEED A PSYCHIATRIST, WELL MAYBE I DO, TO DEAL WITH MY PARK PHOBIA. I'M NOT SCARED OF PARKS. JUST FRIGHTENED OF LOSING THEM. I MADE A MISTAKE ONCE, OF UNDERESTIMATING THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD. IT MAY HAVE COST THE CITIZENS OF BRACEBRIDGE A CENTRAL PARK. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE HEARING, TO BLOCK THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE HISTORIC JUBILEE PARK INTO A UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE CAMPUS. I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THE TOWN FOR DOING THIS, AND FRANKLY I DON'T CARE HOW SUCCESSFUL THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS BECOME. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ANY ONE OF A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVE SITES. THEY WANTED THE CITIZENS' PARK. AND THEY GOT IT.

THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE PLAYED THIS SALE OF A PUBLIC PARK, LIKE A GAME OF CHESS. BEFORE THE NEIGHBORS OF THAT URBAN OPEN SPACE, HAD A CHANCE TO ORGANIZE, THE SUPPORT NETWORK HAD BEEN SECURED. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO ME, AS A FORMER COUNCIL REPORTER AND REGIONAL HISTORIAN, IS THAT COUNCILLORS WERE UNANIMOUS, ON A HUGELY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, TO SELL OFF WHAT THEY WERE STEWARDS OF, FOR ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS WAS AN ESTABLISHED PARK, WITH A HISTORY OF WELL OVER 100 YEARS. IT WAS OPEN SPACE IN A TRANSITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE ANYONE, EVEN WITH THE MOST ELEMENTARY URBAN PLANNING KNOWLEDGE, WOULD BE ABLE TO PREDICT A FUTURE OF MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES, APARTMENTS AND CONDOMINIUMS, IN URBAN REDEVELOPMENT. AN IMPORTANT URBAN PARK, THAT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL AS POPULATION DENSITIES INCREASE. AS URBAN OPEN SPACE IS HARD TO FIND, HERE WAS THIS LITTLE GEM, THAT COUNCILS HAD PROTECTED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, SOLD OFF WITHOUT NARY A COUNCILLOR……NOT ONE, TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS WHO STRENUOUSLY OBJECTED TO THE PROJECT. I'M NOT GOING TO SUGGEST THAT BEING UNANIMOUS IN A DECISION IS WRONG, BUT WHEN IT WAS SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE, ANGRILY DIVIDING THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE SUSPECT, NO ONE WOULD BREAK RANK WITH WHAT WAS A TOWN INITIATIVE. SOLIDARITY IN THIS CASE, DID NOT SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY. A COMMUNITY-WIDE REFERENDUM WOULD HAVE!

WHILE MY WIFE AND I TOOK PART IN THE PROTEST, AND ATTENDED EVERY MEETING….AS INTERESTED CITIZENS OF MUSKOKA (MY HOMETOWN WAS BRACEBRIDGE), I HAD NEVER WITNESSED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. A CONSIDERABLE POWER BASE HAD BUILT-UP, IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT, AND WITH COUNCIL UNWILLING TO BEND, OR EVEN ONE COUNCILLOR SIDE WITH OBJECTORS, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIME, OR MONEY, TO EMPLOY THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED TO EVEN TICKLE THE WILL OF THE TOWN TO FOLLOW THROUGH. WHILE I HAD SPOKEN AT A PUBLIC MEETING, EARLY-ON, IN THE PROJECT, I FELT MY BEST CONTRIBUTION WAS TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, WITH RESEARCH, AND PEN SOME LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OF THE LOCAL PRESS. I WAS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AT THE OMB HEARING, BUT BECAUSE OF MY CONNECTION WITH THE CROZIER FOUNDATION AT THE TIME, AND MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE TOWN, AS CURATOR OF THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME…..AND A RESIDENT OF GRAVENHURST, I FELT IT WAS INFINITELY MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE CITIZENS OF BRACEBRIDGE TO MAKE THEIR OWN HISTORY. THE OBJECTORS FOUGHT A LOSING BATTLE FROM THE DAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED. IT WAS A BEHEMOTH CHALLENGE. AND THEY DID THEIR BEST.

MAYBE YOU WILL THINK OF ME, RATHER BIG FOR MY OWN BRITCHES, IF I SAID, (OR WROTE) I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INFLUENCE A JUDICIAL BODY, WITH MY COMPELLING ARGUMENTS……, LIKE A "MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON," KIND OF IMPOSITION, ON THE CONSCIENCE OF DECISION MAKERS. DID THEY KNOW THE TRUE IMPORTANCE OF THAT PARK? REALLY KNOW? NOT JUST WHAT APPEARED AS BLACK AND WHITE IN THE PILES OF SUBMISSIONS, FOR AND AGAINST. I KNOW A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, FELT THAT I SHOULD HAVE STEPPED-UP, AND ACTED AS A TOWN HISTORIAN SHOULD HAVE…..AS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAD A RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK……A RIGHT TO OBJECT TO WHAT MANY SAW AS "STEAMROLLING" A PLAN……AT ALL COST. I HAVE LIVED WITH REGRET FOR SOME TIME NOW, BECAUSE THAT PARKLAND WAS IMPORTANT TO THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, WHETHER TOWN COUNCIL THOUGHT SO OR NOT. I COULD ONLY VOW ONE THING, AFTER THE VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED, THAT THE PROJECT WAS A "GO." AS AN HISTORIAN, I WOULD NEVER DISMISS THIS EVENT AS JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SMALL TOWN. IT WAS A MILESTONE OF HISTORY. NO MATTER HOW THEY PRESENT THIS, AS THE BEST DARN THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE TOWN, (AND I HAVE CORRECTED THEM, AND THE MEDIA MANY TIMES SINCE), HISTORICAL RECORD INCLUDES DISSENT, JUST AS IT DOES APPROVAL. JUBILEE PARK WASN'T SURRENDERED. IT WAS LOST IN BATTLE.

THE GULL LAKE PARK CONUNDRUM

THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST PROPONENTS, OF "MORE IS BETTER", FOR PLANNED VENUE IMPROVEMENTS, AT GRAVENHURST'S GULL LAKE PARK, REMINDS ME SO MUCH OF THE EARLY GOING, IN THE TRANSITION ARGUMENTS OF BRACEBRIDGE'S "JUBILEE PARK." "SHOVEL READY" PLANS, ARE BEING RAM-RODDED IN THE SAME FASHION, VIA THE LOCAL PRESS, AND ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT A SACRIFICE OF AN ENTIRE PARK, THE CREATION OF A THOUSAND PLUS SEATING AMPHITHEATRE, TO BE CARVED INTO THE EMBANKMENT OF GULL LAKE, SHOULD STILL BE TAKEN AS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE PARK'S PRESENT INTEGRITY.

IT BEGAN INNOCENTLY ENOUGH, WHEN THE BARGE MANAGER, FRED SCHULZ, ASKED THE TOWN TO CONDUCT AN INSPECTION OF THE WOODWORK, AND IRON SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF THE STAGE FACILITY, TO INSURE IT WAS SAFE FOR USE THE NEXT SEASON. THIS WAS IN THE FALL OF 2010, ABOUT TEN MONTHS AHEAD OF THE NEXT YEAR'S MUSIC ON THE BARGE SEASON. EVEN THEN, GETTING REPAIRS TO THE RAMP, FROM THE SHORE TO THE STAGE, WAS DELAYED SUCH THAT THE FIRST TWO CONCERTS OF LAST SUMMER, HAD TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE CRAMPED QUARTERS OF THE ROTARY PAVILION……GOOD FOR PICNICS, BUT NOT SO GOOD AS A VENUE FOR LARGE CONCERTS. WHEN THE INSPECTIONS IN 2011 REVEALED MUCH MORE SERIOUS SUPPORT DEFICIENCIES, THE PLAN WAS TO LOOK AT REPAIRS, POSSIBLY SPREAD OVER SEVERAL YEARS. THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS OF A REPLACEMENT STAGE BUT NOT MUCH WAS RELEASED ABOUT THESE COUNCIL-SIDE CHATS.

THEN OUT OF THE BLUE, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BELONGED, INFORMALLY, TO THE BARGE COMMITTEE OF VOLUNTEERS, THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROPOSAL BEING MADE, TO CREAT A THOUSAND PLUS SEATING AMPHITHEATRE FOR THE BARGE, TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE HILLSIDE OF THE PARK, OPPOSITE THE STAGE. NOW IT'S NOT THAT THIS IDEA HADN'T BEEN CONSIDERED PREVIOUSLY. FRED SCHULZ AND I HAD NUMEROUS TALKS IN THE PAST, ABOUT AFFORDABLE WAYS, THE GRADE OF THE EMBANKMENT (SHORELINE) COULD BE ALTERED TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER, AND SAFER TO SIT ON. IT'S OFTEN THE CASE THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE PERCHED ON THE HILLSIDE, TO WATCH THE SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS, CONDUCTED ON THE BARGE. THE PATRONS BRING BLANKETS AND CUSHIONS, AND THEY SEEM TO ENJOY THE VENUE…..DESPITE SITTING ON A SOMEWHAT SLIPPERY SLOPE. WHEN WE'D THINK MORE ABOUT THE IDEA OF ENHANCED SEATING, WE'VE MUTUALLY AGREED, IN THE PAST, IT WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE AS-IS. KEEP IN MIND, THAT WHENEVER THE ISSUE OF INVESTMENT MONEY IN THE PARK, IS CONSIDERED, BY THE MANAGER, AND HIS POSSEE, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ACTUAL PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WOOD PLATFORM OF THE BARGE. MORE THAN JUST THE USUAL COAT OF PAINT ROLLED OVER ROTTING BOARDS. I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN NEW PAINT APPLIED TO WOOD THAT HADN'T BEEN PROPERLY SCRAPED. SO YOU CAN GUESS HOW LONG THE NEW COAT LASTED ON THE OLD.

FEW OF US LOYALISTS OF THE BARGE CONCERT SERIES, WOULD SAY THAT THE BEST THING FOR GULL LAKE PARK, IS TO HAVE AN EXPENSIVE CONCRETE AND WOOD BUNKER, TO ENHANCE CONCERT SEATING. FEW OF US WOULD BE ASKED, PERIOD. AS OUR SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FRED FOR A LONG TIME NOW, AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS, AND MY WIFE AND I HAVE SAT AT THE TOP OF THAT HILLSIDE, FOR ALL BUT A FEW OF THOSE CONCERTS OVER THE PAST DECADE (PLUS), DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORTH THE EFFORT, TO ASK OUR OPINIONS ABOUT SUCH A DRASTIC REDEVELOPMENT.

HERE'S WHY I WON'T BE ASKED. BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING CONTRARY, TO WHAT THEY WISH TO PROCEED WITH. THEY DON'T NEED NAYSAYERS GETTING IN THE WAY OF A REALLY SWELL IDEA. I ACCEPT THE REALITY, THAT PROTESTING AGAINST GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES, ISN'T GOING TO WIN ME ANY CITIZENSHIP AWARDS. I DON'T WANT ANY. I DON'T REALLY CARE THAT THEY FIND IT NECESSARY, TO BYPASS PERSPECTIVES THAT JUST MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FULL OF ENTHUSIASM TO ENACT THEIR PLANS. BUT AS WE FOUND OUT, WHILE WORKING TO SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WETLAND, FROM BEING SOLD-OFF AS RESIDENTIAL LOTS, IT PAYS TO BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE. WHAT REALLY DROVE ME NUTS ABOUT THE BOG ISSUE, WAS THE REALITY SO MANY COUNCILLORS DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CALYDOR OPEN SPACE WAS ALL ABOUT ANYWAY. TO THEM IT WAS SURPLUS LAND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE DOCUMENTATION, THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH, SHOWED. ONLY FEW COUNCILLORS EVER SHOWED UP TO HAVE A LOOK-SEE. HOW MANY COUNCILLORS, CAN SAY, THEY ARE FREQUENT PATRONS OF MUSIC ON THE BARGE CONCERTS? HOW MANY CAN SAY THEY'VE SPENT THREE OR FOUR HOURS, ON A SUMMER AFTERNOON, WATCHING THE EVENTS UNFOLD AT GULL LAKE PARK? WHEN IT COMES TO A VOTE, ABOUT PROCEEDING WITH A PROJECT, OF THE MAGNITUDE THE TOWN IS ENTERTAINING, I EXPECT THAT THOSE COUNCILLORS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PARK, AND THE CONCERTS, SHOULD EDUCATE THEMSELVES NOW…..AND OR REFUSE TO VOTE ON THESE CHANGES UNTIL THEY HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE BARGE MANAGER, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, AND TAKE HIS CONCERNS SERIOUSLY. IF I'M NOT INVITED TO CHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEN IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THEM, TO GET A COUNTER-POINT BEFORE, THEY ARE FACED WITH A VOTE, ON A MOTION, THEY ARE ONLY PARTIALLY AWARE.

GULL LAKE PARK IS A WONDERFUL SITE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN, AND THEIR GUESTS. IT ISN'T "WHARF-LIKE" AND MANY OF US, WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THIS WAY…..WITHOUT THE CLUTTER OF COMMERCIAL BURDENS, GETTING IN THE WAY OF A REALLY NICE, FAMILY ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE TO GULL LAKE PARK, THAT WOULD ENHANCE PERSONAL COMFORTS….SUCH AS MORE BENCHES, PICNIC TABLES, WASHROOM AND CHANGE-ROOM EXPANSION…..AND WHAT ABOUT A SWELL DRINKING FOUNTAIN, FOR THOSE KIDS, AND ADULTS WHO DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR A SNACKBAR PURCHASE. HOW ABOUT A PLAYGROUND PLAN, TO MAKE IT BIGGER FOR THE KIDS THAT LOVE TO PLAY THERE? THAT'S SENSIBLE PROPORTION. THAT ISN'T EXTRAVAGANT.

WHEN YOU MAKE PLANS, LIKE THE ONES I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT, TO REBUILD THE BARGE, WITH A ROOF, INCREASE SEATING WITH AN AMPHITHEATRE, AND IMPROVE ASPECTS OF PRESENTATION, LIKE THE PURCHASE OF NEW SOUND EQUIPMENT, YOU ARE DETAILING A SERIOUS PLAN TO CHANGE THE PARK. I VERY MUCH SUSPECT, THAT AN AMPHITHEATRE, AND A ROOF OVER THE BARGE (NICE BUT WE COULD HAVE LIVED WITH AN AWNING), AND THE OTHER INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE CONCERT ACCOMMODATION, SUGGESTS A COMMERCIAL SIDE THAT NEEDS TO BE FERRETED OUT, FOR EVERYONE TO STUDY. THE EXPENSE OF THIS ARRANGEMENT, EVEN IF PAID BY GRANTS, IS WELL BEYOND THE VOLUNTARY DONATION FORMAT, MR. SCHULZ EMPLOYS TO MAKE BACK ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE PERFORMERS. I DON'T THINK THEN, THAT THIS AMPHITHEATRE HAS MUCH TO DO WITH MUSIC ON THE BARGE AT ALL. EXCUSE ME FOR BEING SUSPICIOUS, BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED, TO FACILITATE "FOR PROFIT" CONCERTS, WHERE FOLKS WILL BE EXPECTED TO DIG DEEP…..AND NOT JUST FOR THE COINS JANGLING IN THEIR POCKETS. THE EXPENSE OF THE NEW SEATING ARRANGEMENT, MEANS THAT COUNCIL HAS ENTERTAINED THE IDEA OF MANY MORE CONCERTS AT THE PARK, BEYOND THE SUNDAY EVENING PROGRAMS…..AND THEY WILL COST YOU. WE ALL NEED THIS TO BE PUT ON THE TABLE, OFFERED TO THE PRESS, TO FILL OUT THEIR FRONT PAGE STORIES WITH FACT…….NOW A LITTLE LIGHT IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

IT STARTED OUT AS A SIMPLE REQUEST FOR REPAIRS, TO AN HISTORIC STRUCTURE, THAT HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WELL, FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROPOSING "THE GRAND SCHEME," FOR A LOVELY LITTLE LAKESIDE PARK, TRUE TO THE NATURAL GRACE AND BEAUTY OF MUSKOKA ITSELF. SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, GRAND SCHEMES ARE BEST LEFT ON THE NOTE PAD, THEY WERE HASTILY WRITTEN.

AS I REGRET, TO THIS MOMENT, NOT GIVING IT A SHOT, TO TRY AND SAVE JUBILEE PARK, AT THE OMB HEARING, I WON'T MISS MY OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST THE PROPOSED, INTRUSIVE CHANGES TO GULL LAKE PARK. EVERY CITIZEN WHO CARES CARES ABOUT THEIR HOMETOWN ASSETS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR OPINION, FOR OR AGAINST THIS AMPHITHEATRE PROJECT, SHOULD MAKE THEIR FEELINGS KNOWN TO TOWN HALL…..LONG BEFORE THE BUDGET OF TIME, AT THE PINNACLE OF DECISION MAKING, COUNCILS LOVE TO IMPOSE ON DEBATE…..USUALLY IN THEIR FAVOR.

THERE WILL BE READERS, CITIZENS GENERALLY, AND SOME IN OTHER PARTS OF THE PROVINCE, OR COUNTRY, WHO WILL READ THIS AND RECALL A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE, WHERE THEY RESERVED JUDGEMENT, AND FELT BAD ABOUT IT LATER. POSSIBLY THEY WILL RECALL A MUNICIPAL SITUATION THAT REMINDS THEM OF JUBILEE PARK. THERE WILL BE OTHERS WHO FIND THAT IT IS TOTAL FEAR-MONGERING, TO EVEN BRING UP THE JUBILEE PARK SALE, IN THE SAME PARAGRAPH, AS THE CRITIQUE ABOUT GULL LAKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS. THAT'S OKAY. BUT WHEN YOU'VE RESEARCHED THE PROCESS, AND STUDIED HOW PROJECTS ARE SOLD, AS BEING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND UNDERSTAND HOW PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS WON-OVER, YOU MIGHT THEN APPRECIATE HOW DAUNTING IT IS, HOW AWFUL THE EFFORT, TO FIGHT TOWN HALL WHEN THE CAST IS SET. AS STEWARDS OF OUR TOWN ASSETS, COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE SCRUTINIZED AND CORRECTED WHEN THEY ARE IN ERROR. IF WE HADN'T KNOWN OUR RIGHTS, AND THOSE INCONSISTENCIES OF COUNCIL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, OUR FILTERING LOWLAND HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED…..TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A NEW TOWN HALL.

SO WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE FROM THE COUNCILLORS OF THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, ON THIS ISSUE OF RE-CONSTRUCTING GULL LAKE PARK, AND THE BARGE? AN OBJECTIVE, ENLIGHTENED, EDUCATED CRITICAL REVIEW WOULD BE AMAZING…..EVEN JUST ONE COUNCILLOR…. WILLING TO ENTERTAIN COUNTER-POINT, THAT AN AMPHITHEATRE, AS PROPOSED, MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO HEAVILY USE GULL LAKE PARK. IF I SENSE THAT COUNCILLORS ARE GOING TO JUMP ON THIS BANDWAGON, WELL, THEN EXPECT SOME OBSTACLES TO GET THROWN IN THE WAY.

I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY. I MUST RESPECT THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY. FIRST, HOWEVER, THE PLAYING FIELD MUST BE LEVEL. NOW! TODAY, WHEN THIS DEBATE IS AT THE "SEED" STAGE, WHEN THERE IS TIME TO DEBATE THE MATTER SENSIBLY, IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN….NOT JUST AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS…OR BY-INVITATION-ONLY DISCUSSIONS. THIS IS A VERY PUBLIC MATTER FOR A PUBLIC PARK. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE. DON'T LIVE WITH THE REGRET, YOU DIDN'T SPEAK UP SOONER.

A REPAIRED BARGE. NOW THAT'S SQUARE ONE. HOW BE WE START FROM HERE INSTEAD!

CANADIAN GLASS, A THICK WICK, AND ORANGE GLOW, OF AN HISTORIC OIL LAMP

IT COST ME THREE DOLLARS. SOME TIMES, YOU CATCH A LUCKY BREAK. I FOUND A NICE LAMP FOR MY DESK. IT DOESN'T PLUG IN. IT SMELLS, BUT IN A NICE WAY.

SOMEWHERE IN THIS LITTLE MUSEUM OF OURS, I HAVE ABOUT ONE HUNDRED ANTIQUE OIL LAMPS. POSSIBLY MORE. I USED TO KNOW, BECAUSE I COLLECTED THEM ACTIVELY. THEN THERE WAS THIS FLOOD OF OIL LAMPS THAT DROWNED THE MARKET. IT HAPPENS PERIODICALLY IN THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE TRADE. BACK IN THE EARLY 1990'S SPORTS CARDS WENT THROUGH THE SAME DEAL. VALUES WENT THROUGH THE ROOF, AND THEN BACK THROUGH THE BASEMENT FLOOR. FIRST THERE WERE A FEW OLD CARDS ON THE LOCAL MARKET. VALUATIONS FOR VINTAGE CARDS, EVEN COMMONS, WERE HIGH. THEN EVERY OLD FART WHO EVER COLLECTED A HOCKEY OR BASEBALL CARD, STARTED PUTTING THEIRS UP FOR SALE. CARD COMPANIES STARTED PRINTING BILLIONS OF COLLECTOR ISSUES, AND GUESS WHAT. MY INVESTMENTS IN BOTH NEW AND OLD SPORTS CARDS PLUMMETED. ROBERT REMINDED ME THIS MORNING, THAT WE SHOULD RENT A FORKLIFT, FOR A LITTLE HOUSE-CLEANING, TO SHIFT OUR STUFFED-TO-OVERFLOWING BOXES OF CARDS (OF ALL SPORTS), PILED INTO MANY STORAGE AREAS HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW. WE MIGHT EVEN CONSIDER SELLING BY THE POUND.

INSTEAD OF SEEING A FEW OIL LAMPS ON MY ANTIQUE ROUNDS, I'D FIND ABOUT FORTY A DAY. ANTIQUE DEALERS / COLLECTORS, ARE ALWAYS MORE CONTENT TO SEE LESS VOLUME OF PIECES THEY POSSESS….OR WISH TO COLLECT MORE OF. IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, THE PRICE OF VINTAGE COAL OIL LAMPS HAS PLUMMETED, AT LEAST HERE IN THE ONTARIO HINTERLAND. (THE EXCEPTIONS ARE RARE COLORED, CRANBERRY, COBALT BLUE, ORNATE HANGING LAMPS, ETC) SAY, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT ANTIQUES ARE GOING TO PLUMMET NEXT, WELL, WATCH WHAT I BUY MOST OF……..SURE AS HELL, I CAN FIND THEM. I JUST HOLD ON AND WAIT FOR THE TIDE TO TURN. IT WILL EVENTUALLY, IN TIME FOR MY BOYS' INHERITANCE.

MOST ANTIQUE SHOP PROPRIETORS WILL HAVE BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN LAMPS, OF VARIOUS SHAPES, SIZES AND PROVENANCE, FOR SALE, ALMOST AS A TRADITION OF THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION. JUST LIKE THE STANDARD SHOP ADORNMENTS OF VINEGAR CROCKS, MEDICINE BOTTLES, QUILTS, A HUDSONS BAY BLANKET OR TWO, A CROCKERY FOOT WARMER, A VINTAGE CHRISTENING GOWN, AND MAYBE EVEN A PINE CRADLE…..FOR THE THREE OR SO DOLLS THAT FIT SO NICELY INSIDE. OIL LAMPS. WAY TO MANY TO CONVINCE THE COLLECTOR THERE IS A MARKET SHORTAGE. THUS THE PRICE TAGS YELLOW WITH AGE. IT HAS NEVER STOPPED ME FROM LOOKING AT ALL THE LAMPS I COME UPON. I AM ALWAYS IN THE MARKET FOR AN OIL LAMP I DON'T HAVE. THIS WAS THE CASE THIS MORNING, ON A LITTLE ANTIQUE JAG WITH SON ROBERT. I GOT A DANDY. PROBABLY ONE OF THE OLDEST LAMPS I'VE FOUND SINCE THE LATE 1970'S. GOT SOME GREAT USED PRICE GUIDES, AND ROBERT GOT SOME VINTAGE VINYL AND A 1970'S STEREO AND TURNTABLE. SON ANDREW REPAIRS THEM, PUTS ON A NEW NEEDLE, IF IT'S NEEDED, DOES SOME BELT TIGHTENING (AS I SHOULD DO), AND GOES TO THE NEXT NAME ON THE "WANT" LIST. THEY HAVE A LIST OF FOLKS WANTING VINTAGE STEREOS, TO GO WITH THEIR CLASSIC VINYL. MANY NEVER MAKE IT TO THE STORE SHELVES, AS THEY ARE SOLD IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING SERVICED.

MY FIND WAS A HIGHLY FLAWED CLEAR GLASS LAMP, WITH A GLOBE SHAPE, HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY THICK LIP FOR SPILLED OIL, MEASURING ELEVEN AND A HALF INCHES TO THE TOP OF THE BURNER. THERE ARE NO CHIPS, WHICH IS AMAZING ON SUCH A DELICATE GLASS PIECE, COMING FROM THE PERIOD OF THE LATE 1800'S. THERE ARE MANY BUBBLES IN THE GLASS, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS INDICATE AGE, AND CAN RELATE TO THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL USED. THIS IS A HIGHER QUALITY PIECE, AND WITH IT'S UNUSUALLY TINY BURNER, AND SMALL NECK OPENING, (ORIGINAL), WITH BRASS COLLAR, AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL BURNER APPARATUS, THIS WAS, FOR ME, THE FIND OF 2012 SO FAR. IT IS A VERY GRACIOUS AND FUNCTIONAL PIECE, QUITE DISTINCTIVE, WITHOUT BEING MORE THAN A BASIC, RELIABLE DESK LAMP. I'VE HAD MANY COLORED GLASS LAMPS, AND SEVERAL WITH THE COVETED BULLSEYE DESIGN, WHICH ARE VERY COLLECTIBLE EVEN WITH A FLOODED MARKET. I WILL HAVE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS LAMP TO FIND THE STYLE OF SHADE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLD WITH, FROM THE LOCAL GENERAL MERCHANT / HARDWARE STORE, WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MARKETED. THE LAMP IS WORTH ABOUT $75.00…..WHEN THE MARKET IMPROVES. BUT I WON'T BE SELLING THIS ONE.

MY FORMER GIRLFRIEND'S FATHER, GORD SMITH, OF BRACEBRIDGE, WAS VERY INTERESTED IN COAL OIL LAMPS, AND REALLY ENJOYED RESTORING ONES THAT HAD FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. HE WAS SO INCREDIBLY PATIENT, REFURBISHING THE ORIGINAL BURNERS, WHICH SOME OF THE LAMPS STILL POSSESSED WHEN HE GOT THEM. HE DIDN'T LIKE TO BUY NEW BURNERS IF HE COULD FIX THE OLDTIMERS. IF HE COULD GET THEM WORKING SAFELY, AS THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION, THEN HE WAS HAPPIEST WITH A PROJECT RESTORATION. LIKE MOST COLLECTORS, HE HAD MANY SPARE PARTS, AND PIECES SCAVENGED FROM LAMPS THAT COULDN'T BE SAVED. HE FELT THAT NEW APPLIANCES, EVEN SHADES, DEVALUED THE INTEGRITY OF THE LAMPS. HE USED TO TELL ME ABOUT GROWING UP WITH OIL LAMPS AS SIGNIFICANT ALTERNATIVE LIGHTING, AND THE MAINTENANCE TO KEEP THE WICKS TRIMMED, FOR A GOOD LIGHT, THE FONTS FULL OF OIL, AND THE SHADES CLEANED OF SOOT. NO ONE ENJOYED THAT JOB. HE ALWAYS SEEMED SO PLEASED, WHEN HE COULD RESTORE, AND PROPERLY CONSERVE, A NICE OLD FARM LAMP……, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS ONE HE REMEMBERED FROM HIS FAMILY HOMESTEAD. GORD WAS REALLY PLEASED, WHEN THAT HERITAGE LAMP WAS IGNITED, AND THE FLAME ARRIVED, AND SETTLED DOWN TO THAT PERFECT FLAME, WITH ITS NOSTALGIC ORANGE GLOW. I WATCHED HIM REPAIR LAMPS THAT I THOUGHT, FRANKLY, WERE JUST JUNKERS……GOOD FOR PARTS, BUT NOT FOR SHOW. HE PROVED ME WRONG MANY TIMES. I GOT HOOKED BY WATCHING GORD, BRING THOSE LAMPS BACK TO LIFE.

ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, GORD WOULD ANNOUNCE TO THE FAMILY, HIS INTENTION TO LIGHT SOME OF HIS FAVORITE OIL LAMPS, HE KEPT ON A NICE PARLOR TABLE NEAR THE ROCK HEARTH, OF THE LIVINGROOM FIREPLACE. HE'D LIGHT EIGHT OR SO OF THE OLD LAMPS, OF ALL SHAPES AND DESCRIPTIONS, AND IN THE LOW LIGHT OF THE ROOM, THEY PRESENTED AN AMAZING GLOW…..AND QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL HEAT AS WELL. IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THEM BEING REFURBISHED, AND THE GLASS CLEANED OF HARDENED COAL OIL, AND THEY DID LOOK NEAT CLUMPED TOGETHER AS A SORT OF FUNCTIONAL GLASS SCULPTURE. BUT WHEN THEY WERE ALL LIT, WELL, THAT WAS COMPELLING TO A YOUNG COLLECTOR LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED. THIS WAS THE LAUNCH OF MY OWN PERSONAL OIL LAMP COLLECTION. IT PARALLELED THE CREATION OF MY FIRST ANTIQUE BUSINESS, WHICH WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH MY PARENTS, IN A MAINSTREET BRACEBRIDGE STOREFRONT. I WAS OFF TO THE RACES, AS THEY SAY. IT'S TRUE, I NEVER LOOKED BACK. I JUST WHIPPED THROUGH THE FAILURES ONE AFTER THE OTHER. OLD MILL ANTIQUES WAS CLOSED, THREE YEARS AFTER IT OPENED, DUE TO THE FACT WE ALL HAD TO GET JOBS TO SUPPORT THE LOSSES OF THE ANTIQUE TRADE. IT HAD ACTUALLY BECOME A FAMILY HOBBY, INSTEAD OF A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS. WHAT WE HAD TO DO, IN ORDER TO MAKE RENT FOR THE STORE EVERY MONTH, TOOK UP ALL OUR AVAILABLE TIME. SO THE SHOP BECAME SOMEWHAT REDUNDANT YOU MIGHT SAY. I NEVER SOLD ANY OF MY TEN OR SO OIL LAMPS THAT I HAD BY THAT POINT….CIRCA 1979.

OVER A GLASS OF WINE, WITH A FEW ANTIQUE DEALERS YOU KNOW, WHY NOT ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR MISADVENTURES IN THE BUSINESS, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE COST THEM THEIR COLLECTIONS, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. WE'VE ALL DONE IT. WE'VE ALL MADE SOME MISTAKES, AND HAD TO PAY THE PIPER TO MAKE CORRECTIONS. MANY OF US HAVE HAD TO BUY OUR COLLECTIONS ALL OVER AGAIN. TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL STEP UP FIRST, AND TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I WAS, AND THEN "I WASN'T" A COLLECTOR OF OLD OIL LAMPS.

THE FIRST VINTAGE OIL LAMP, I EVER OWNED, CAME FROM A LANDLORD OF A ROOMING HOUSE, I USED TO LIVE IN TORONTO, DURING MY UNIVERSITY YEARS. RITA WILSON, A WONDERFUL, ACCOMMODATING LADY (WHO LOOKED AFTER US STARVING STUDENTS WELL), HAD A TINY WIRE-LOOPED, FINGER LAMP, SITTING ON A SHELF FULL OF BRIC-A-BRAC. I ASKED HER ABOUT THAT LAMP AT LEAST FIFTY TIMES. IT HAD BELONGED TO HER MOTHER, YOU SEE, AND IT WAS OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE. THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE VALUE OF ALL. FINALLY, SHE THOUGHT THAT $20.00 WOULD BE FITTING…..MY INTEREST AND HER FAMILY ATTACHMENT. I AGREED. IT WAS WORTH ABOUT FIFTEEN BUCKS BUT SHE DESERVED A TIP FOR ALL THE COOKIES AND CAKE SHE OFFERED US….WELL BEYOND THE BOARD WE PAID EACH MONTH. WHEN I DRIPPED IN SOME LEFTOVER COAL OIL I HAD, AND STRUCK THAT FIRST FLAME, WELL SIR, IT WAS OBVIOUS I WAS EASY TO PLEASE. EVEN TODAY, SUZANNE CAN STOP MY COMPLAINING BY BUYING ME AN OIL LAMP. THIS MIGHT EXPLAIN MY LARGE COLLECTION, AS I AM A BIG COMPLAINER. IT HAS ALWAYS SERVED ME WELL, EXCEPT WITH MY MOTHER, WHO USED A COMPLIMENT OF "SWIFT BOOT TO THE ASS" TO SIMMER ME DOWN.

GORD SMITH'S DAUGHTER, GAIL, CAME WITH ME TO AN AUCTION ONE DAY, AT A VICTORIAN ERA HOUSE IN BRACEBRIDGE, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FIRST "FARM LAMP," WHICH IS WHAT GORD CALLED IT; ALSO FOR TWENTY BUCKS. IT WAS A VERY TALL AND HANDSOME LAMP BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY FRILLS. IT WAS JUST A NICE, RELIABLE LAMP WITH A HUGE FONT…..THAT STORED ENOUGH OIL FOR HOURS AND HOURS OF USE. AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG AT ALL, BEFORE I WAS ACQUIRING VINTAGE LAMPS ON JUST ABOUT EVERY ANTIQUE OUTING, FROM THE ADVENTURES WE USED TO GO ON, ALL OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE OF SOUTHERN ONTARIO. SO WHEN I AGREED WITH MY PARENTS TO CLOSE OLD MILL ANTIQUES, AS A PROJECT THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE THE GRADE, I WAS STUCK WITH OIL LAMPS. LOTS OF THEM. THEN I BECAME A REPORTER. A WRITER. A STARVING ARTIST. ONE WITH OIL LAMPS. NO MONEY. JUST OIL LAMPS.

SO TO MAKE ENDS MEET, I SOLD MY ENTIRE STOCK OF OIL LAMPS. I USED THE MONEY FOR BOOZE, RENT, AND FOOD EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. I LED A REPORTER'S LIFE. WHILE I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE TO SELL THEM IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, I KNEW THERE WAS A STRONG POSSIBILITY, I WOULD HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES ONE DAY, TO BUY SOME BACK. THIS WAS TRUE ENOUGH, AND FROM THE EARLY 1980'S TO THE PRESENT, I'VE BOUGHT AND SOLD PROBABLY THREE SUBSTANTIAL COLLECTIONS, IN ORDER TO BUY BOOZE (ONLY KIDDING), FOOD, CLOTHING FOR THE BOYS, AND NICE THINGS FOR MY CHARMING BRIDE (STILL ONLY KIDDING). I ALWAYS FOUND THEM QUITE EASY TO SELL, AS A COLLECTION, EXCEPT FOR THE RECENT PAST WHICH HAS SEEN A DEFINITE SOFTENING OF THE MARKET FOR OIL LAMPS.

FROM MY LATEST COLLECTION, WHICH I VOWED TO KEEP FOREVER, I REGRET THE CIRCUMSTANCES, OF A CRAPPY VEHICLE, THAT PUT US IN A TIGHT SPOT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WITH SERIOUS ENGINE REPAIRS, AND VERY LITTLE CASH IN HAND. SO I TOOK THREE OF MY BEST COLORED GLASS OIL LAMPS, AND SOLD THEM IN AN ONLINE AUCTION FOR A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY…..AT LEAST TO ME. TWO WERE DEPRESSION GLASS AND ONE WAS A BEAUTIFUL COBALT BLUE, AND I TRULY HATED TO SEE THEM PACKAGED AND SHIPPED OFF TO THEIR NEW HOMES. TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING, I'VE STUCK TO INTERESTING CLEAR GLASS OIL LAMPS, THAT MAY BE RUN-OF-THE-MILL TO SOME COLLECTORS, BUT ARE MUCH LESS TEMPTING TO SELL OFF, WHEN THE NEED FOR QUICK CASH ARISES. SO MY COLLECTION HAS BEEN CONSERVED BY THE REALITY OF ITS COMMONPLACE, "PLAINNESS," YOU MIGHT SAY. HEY, WHATEVER WORKS. I ALSO SOLD AN INCREDIBLE "STUDENT LAMP," WITH ORIGINAL GREEN SHADE, MINT CONDITION BRASS WORK, AND ALL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. I FIRED IT UP ONCE, AND I WAS IMPRESSED. THE AUCTION PRICE STAGGERED US, IN A MOST POSITIVE WAY. SO IT WAS SHIPPED TO THE UNITED STATES. LIKE I SAY, I'LL HANG ON TO THE PLAIN JANES, AND GET RID OF THE GEMS.

I USE COAL OIL LAMPS ON MY OFFICE DESK WHEN I'M WRITING. I AM HOOKED ON THE NOSTALGIC AROMA OF IGNITED COAL OIL. I ACTUALLY HAD TO STOP USING THEM FOR AWHILE, BECAUSE I WAS DEVELOPING A SERIOUS DEPENDENCE ON THEM, IN ORDER TO COMPOSE ANYTHING…..EVEN AN EMAIL. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE MUSIC I USED TO LISTEN TO, WHILE I WORKED AT THE KEYBOARD. I FOUND IT WAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED MY MOODS, SUCH THAT IF I WAS LISTENING TO SOMETHING MELANCHOLY, THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THE EDITORIAL COPY WOULD READ. AND I THEN WHEN I'D SHUT THE MUSIC OFF, IT TOOK WEEKS TO REGAIN INSPIRATION FROM OTHER THINGS…..LIKE THE WONDERFUL VIEW OVER THE BOG, I ENJOY TODAY. IT WAS THE SAME WITH THE OIL LAMPS. WHEN I RAN OUT OF OIL ONE DAY, AND THE LIGHT WAS SNUFFED, I ACTUALLY COULDN'T WRITE ANYTHING. I COULDN'T BELIEVE I HAD DEVELOPED A CREATIVE ADDICTION TO THE LIGHT AND SCENT OF AN OLD OIL LAMP. SO I HAD TO CUT BACK A TAD, AND LEARN TO WRITE WITHOUT THAT FAMILIAR, CHARMING GLOW OF FIRELIGHT….THAT AROMA OF A PIONEER HOMESTEAD IN THE MUSKOKA WILDS. SEMI-WILDS.

I HAVE SOME WORK TO DO ON THE OIL LAMP I PURCHASED TODAY. I WANT TO HAVE IT UP AND RUNNING BY THE WEEKEND. I'LL TRY AND POST A PHOTOGRAPH…..THE BEFORE AND AFTER. YOU KNOW, DESPITE THE LOW VALUES FOR THESE COMMON, CLEAR GLASS LAMPS TODAY, I JUST DON'T THINK OF THEM IN CASH VALUES ANY MORE. THAT'S A GOOD THING. I'VE GOT SOME MORE COSTLY CAR REPAIRS COMING. I MIGHT LOOK AT THEM AS A RESOURCE, BUT I WON'T FOLLOW THROUGH, AS I HAVE IN THE PAST.

THERE IS SOMETHING WONDERFUL, I CAN'T QUITE EXPLAIN, ABOUT THE LOOK AND FEEL OF OLD GLASS. OF COURSE, COLLECTING ANTIQUE GLASS, IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PATHS, FOR ROOKIE COLLECTORS. IT TAKES YEARS AND YEARS TO EDUCATE YOURSELF IN GLASS IDENTIFICATION. BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF BOOKS ON THE MARKET AND IN LOCAL LIBRARIES TO GIVE YOU A HAND. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND OLD AND ORIGINAL OIL LAMPS…….BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GLASS IDENTIFICATION, GADS, I'M STILL VERY MUCH A ROOKIE. IN FUTURE COLUMNS I'LL WRITE A LITTLE MORE, ON THE PITFALLS OF COLLECTING VINTAGE GLASS.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S ANTIQUE BLOG. SEE YOU SOON.

The BARGE, GULL LAKE PARK, RED PIANO

BREAKING NEWS FROM THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST. RED PIANO IS GONE!

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GONE BEFORE THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY. BUT BEING TWO WEEKS LATE, IS BETTER THAN A MONTH OR SIX MONTHS WHICH I WAS STARTED TO THINK WAS MORE LIKELY. THE PARTLY LEGENDARY RED PIANO, THAT MAINSTREET EYESORE, HAS BEEN HAULED AWAY BY EITHER THE TOWN, OR SOMEONE JUST WISHING TO PUT IT OUT OF ITS MISERY. IT WAS PRETTY MISERABLE. FOR ALL ITS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS, AS A NORMAL WOOD-FINISHED PIANO, IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF FAMILY SING-SONGS, IT WOUND UP PAINTED RED, AND PLACED UNCEREMONIOUSLY IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE PROPERTIES, STRUCK BY LAST SPRING'S UPTOWN FIRE. THE IDEA WAS THAT IT WOULD BE A MAGNATE FOR LOCAL BUSKERS….WHO TO THE CONTRARY, PREFERRED THE SHADY SIDE OF THE STREET, WHERE THERE WAS A CONVENIENT PARK BENCH. ALAS, WHAT WAS PERCEIVED AS A MAINSTREET ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, BECAME INSTEAD, A MONUMENT TO POOR PLANNING, AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION. WHEN ROAD RE-CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THIS BLOCK, LAST SEPTEMBER, THE BACKBOARDS USED TO BUFFER THE VACANT LOTS, WERE REMOVED AND THE PIANO WAS MOVED BACK IN THE LOT…..FOR SAFE KEEPING, I SUPPOSE. SO THE VANDALS AND NON-MUSICIANS SIMPLY BEAT IT UP SOME MORE, TO ADD TO THE INDIGNITY OF A FORMERLY NICE PIANO. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED A LONG TIME AGO. AS TOWN COUNCIL AND THE LOCAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION HAVE PUT A SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT INTO BUSINESS REVITALIZATION, WELL, SEEING THAT PIANO DAILY, TORN APART, WAS A TAD CONTRADICTORY TO THE MISSION STATEMENT OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENT. MANY OF US PIANO WATCHERS, ARE DELIGHTED BY THE ACTION OF SOMEONE….SOME GROUP…..ALIENS, THIEVES, WHO HAULED THE RED PIANO TO A FINAL RESTING PLACE. THANK YOU!

WHAT'S THE CONTROVERSY WITH ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES? SORRY, I JUST GET SIDE-TRACKED BY LOCAL POLITICAL JOCKEYING

I STARTED HAMMERING OUT A COLUMN THIS MORNING, FOR MY "WALDEN AS MUSKOKA" BLOG-SITE, BUT NOT BEFORE READING THE WEEKLY PRESS, AS I HAVE DONE EVERY PRESS DAY SINCE I WAS EDITOR OF THE FORMER HERALD-GAZETTE, IN BRACEBRIDGE. SUZANNE HAS FREQUENTLY SUGGESTED I SPEND MY MONEY ON A BOTTLE OF IMPORTED BEER INSTEAD, OR GAMBLE IT AWAY ON A LOTTERY TICKET. SHE DOESN'T THINK IT'S GOOD FOR ME, TO GET SO BLOODY MAD ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS. EVEN IF I HAD THUMPED-OUT THREE OR FOUR PARAGRAPHS OF MY DAILY ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE TOME, OR THIS LANDSCAPE BLOG, "WALDEN" THE NEWSPAPER WOULD HAVE COME MY WAY SOONER OR LATER…..(IT ALWAYS DOES, AS IF GOD HAS HAD A HAND IN IT) MOST LIKELY ONE OF MY SONS, WILL ARRIVE AT THE DOOR TO MY OFFICE YELLING "EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT." ANNOUNCING, AS HAPPENED THIS MORNING, "DAD, YOU SHOULD READ THE FRONT PAGE STORY ABOUT THE BARGE." (THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE IN GRAVENHURST'S GULL LAKE PARK)

WHAT BEGAN AS A GOOD MORNING FOR SOME LANDSCAPE STUDIES, HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, OVERLOOKING THE LOWLAND WE CALL "THE BOG," TURNED INTO CAULDRON OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, SUCH THAT I'M SURE THE BOYS REGRETTED BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WON'T RE-HASH IT NOW, BUT HAVE ATTACHED, WHAT I WROTE IN RESPONSE, TO THE BOTTOM OF TODAY'S ANTIQUE BLOG…..JUST IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WATCHING "A DEBACLE" IN ITS EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.

SO WHAT BEGAN AS A WALDEN STORY OF INSPIRATION, ABOUT NATURAL PLACES, BECAME AN EDITORIAL FOR THIS "HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE" SITE INSTEAD. I CAN ONLY OFFER AN APOLOGY TO REGULAR READERS FOR THIS DIVERSION OF FOCUS, BUT I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING A PROTEST TO THOSE WHO REPRESENT MY TAXPAYER, CONSTITUENCY RIGHTS.

A LITTLE HUMOR IN THE ANTIQUE FIELD - WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES A LOT

SOMETIMES I DON'T DESERVE TO BE SO HAPPY. APPARENTLY I'VE GOT A LOT OF COMPLAINTS TO MAKE. A LOT OF GRIPING TO DO, WITH NO ONE TO LISTEN. NO ONE WHO REALLY CARES ANYWAY. SHOULD I ACCIDENTALLY COME UPON AN UNSUSPECTING AUDIENCE, THEY'D IMMEDIATELY DISPERSE, SENSING AN UNSOLICITED LECTURE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. FUNNY THING, I'M NOT A VERY SERIOUS FELLOW AT ALL. I TAKE LIFE AS IT COMES, AND WHETHER IT IS AT WORK, DOMESTIC CHORES, OR PREACHING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BY GOLLY, I'VE ALWAYS GOT AN ANECDOTE…….WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY MAGIC BULLET. I'D SOONER LAUGH THAN CRY, AND I MAKE THIS A POINT IN MY LIFE. A FEW TIMES A MONTH, I JUST GET ANGRY ABOUT SOME ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED INJUSTICE IN OUR TOWN, OUR PROVINCE, OUR COUNTRY. I'M PRETTY ORDINARY WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT. BUT I LOVE TO WRITE. SO HERE IT IS, FOR THE 15TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2012. A FUNNY LITTLE STORY ABOUT THE FOLLIES OF THE COLLECTOR.

THIS IS A LITTLE ANECDOTAL GEM OF PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY, RECALLING MY MANY YEARS CHASING ELUSIVE BIG FINDS, AND TRUSTING A NEWLY PURCHASED ANTIQUE, TO PAY AN OCCASIONAL DIVIDEND. BUT WHAT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD, IS THE "PERSONAL SIGNATURE" WAY WE CONDUCT BUSINESS. WE DON'T RUN CLOTHING SHOPS, BAKERIES, TEA ROOMS, COFFEE SHOPS, OR MARINAS. WE OPERATE BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS BASED ON OUR SENSE OF PROPRIETY….OUR PERSONAL BIASES, INTERESTS, AFFECTIONS, LIKES AND ALL THE REST. YOU CAN GO INTO JUST ABOUT ANY ANTIQUARIAN AND RARE BOOK SHOP, AND IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR, KNOW PRETTY MUCH THE CUT OF THE VENDOR'S JIB. EVEN BY PRICE COMPARISON. A TRAINED BOOK SLEUTH WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT BOOKS THE VENDOR PRIZES ABOVE ALL OTHERS. WELL KNOWN CANADIAN AUTHOR, ROBERT FULFORD, ONCE WROTE A MEMORABLE COLUMN, ABOUT VISITING SOME OLD BOOK SHOPS, IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, I BELIEVE, WHERE THERE WERE STRIKINGLY SIGNIFICANT PRICE DIFFERENCES FOR PARALLEL TITLES, EVEN SHORT DISTANCES BETWEEN COMPETING SHOPS. WITHOUT ANY APOLOGY, VENDORS WERE PRICING IMPORTANT BOOKS TO THEM, AND THEIR COLLECTING INTERESTS, HIGHER THAN OTHER SHOPS. WITHOUT APOLOGY, OR ANY REAL INTEREST IN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, TO PLACATE COMPARISON SHOPPERS. SO IT ISN'T TOO HARD TO FIND WHAT THE FAVORITE ANCHOR BOOKS ARE, IF YOU LOOK IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MOST ANTIQUE BUSINESSES, AND NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE CHINA THAN QUILTS, OR DEPRESSION GLASS, MORESO THAN PRESSED GLASS. THAT MAY JUST BE COINCIDENCE OF BUYING OPPORTUNITY. YOU MAY FIND THE EXACT OPPOSITE TO WHAT YOU EXPECT, AND DISCOVER AN EXPERT IN OLD QUILTS, AMIDST ALL THE GENERAL INVENTORY. I'VE NEVER MET A DEALER YET, WHO WASN'T EXPERT IN SOMETHING BEYOND WHAT WAS VISIBLE TO THE PATRON. THEY ALL HAVE THEIR SIGNATURE INTERESTS, THAT PROBABLY GOT THEM STARTED IN THE BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I'VE HAD MANY SIGNATURE COLLECTIONS IN THE PAST. MINE AREN'T ACCIDENTAL OR INADVERTENTLY CONSTRUCTED BY CHANCE ENCOUNTER. I'M USUALLY PRETTY MINDFUL, AND INTENTIONAL BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T BE INFLUENCED BY HAPPENSTANCE FROM TIME TO TIME. SOMETHING THAT POPS UP THAT I SIMPLY HAVE NO ACTIVE STRATEGY, OR POLICY ABOUT; WHETHER I SHOULD BUY IT……. OR RUN AWAY AS FAST AS MY STUBBY LEGS WILL CARRY ME. HOW TO REACT? I DON'T THINK ABOUT TOO MUCH. I'VE SHIFTED WITH AGE. I'VE BEEN VIOLENTLY SHIFTED FROM COLLECTING OLD CHAIRS, TO QUILTS, TO CANADIAN GLASS, TO BOOKS, AND THEN TO ART, OF WHICH I'M CURRENTLY OBSESSED. BUT IN THE QUEST TO ENHANCE COLLECTIONS OF WHAT WE MOST ADORE, THERE ARE LITTLE SIDEBAR DIVERSIONS…..THAT ARE STILL MIRROR REFLECTIONS OF WHO WE ARE AS HUMANS. THINGS THAT PARALLEL OUR SENSE OF HUMOR, OUR FAITH, FOLLIES, SUCCESSES AND FAILURES. IT COMES WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE ARE FACED WITH SOMETHING, A PIECE OF POTENTIAL INVENTORY, WE HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE. BUT WE EMPLOYED THE "IT'S ME" PERSPECTIVE, MAKING THE PURCHASE BECAUSE IT IS SOMEHOW PROVIDENTIALLY REFLECTIVE OF OUR VALUES, AS TRULY BIZARRE AS THAT MIGHT BE. OR WHETHER WE GAVE IT A LOT OF THOUGHT AT THE TIME WE WERE EXCHANGING MONEY, TO MAKE THE ACQUISITION. WE'VE ALL COME HOME, FROM TIME TO TIME, WITH SOMETHING IN THE CAR THAT OUR PARTNERS, AND ASSOCIATES REMARKED….."WHAT ON EARTH POSSESSED YOU TO BUY THAT THING." I WILL PURPOSELY BUY SOMETHING TO GET THAT KIND OF COME-BACK. I LOVE IT. I'M ALL ABOUT SURPRISES. SUZANNE EXPECTS THE BIZARRE AND THAT'S WHAT I DELIVER.

SO ONE DAY, I POPPED INTO A LITTLE SECOND HAND SHOP, NEAR ORILLIA, LOOKING FOR SOME "SMALLS" AS DEALERS LIKE TO CALL THE LESS CUMBERSOME, TRADEMARK, AFFORDABLE COLLECTIBLES TO INFILL OUR SHOP SHELVES. I USED TO GET A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CROCKS AND OLD BOOKS FROM THIS RATHER SAGE VENDOR, WHO I LIKED TO CONVERSE WITH, ON MY TRIPS DOWN THAT WAY. I WAS IN THE SHOP ABOUT A HALF HOUR, BEFORE I SAW IT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES. OPENED UP, AS IF A PARADE WAS ABOUT TO START, WAS A GORGEOUS HAND-PAINTED BANNER, WITH NICELY TURNED, WOODEN CARRYING POSTS, WITH RIBBONS HANGING DOWN, SUPPORTING THE HUGE FABRIC PANEL ADORNED BY WILLIAM OF ORANGE…."KING BILLY." I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFIC ORANGE LODGE IT REPRESENTED, OTHER THAN IT WAS FROM THE ORILLIA AREA. DESPITE THE FACT IT HAD A FEW TEARS IN THE SATIN BANNER, THIS WAS A BRILLIANT, WELL EXECUTED PAINTING OF A VERY COLORFUL INDIVIDUAL. MY FATHER ED, WHO HAD ACTUALLY MARCHED IN ORANGE PARADES, BACK IN HIS DAYS GROWING UP IN TORONTO'S "CABBAGETOWN," COULDN'T BELIEVE IT EITHER, WHEN HE ROUNDED THE OPPOSITE CORNER….AND WE MET SQUARELY IN THE CENTRE OF THE PAINTING, DEPICTING THE WHITE HORSE, THAT KING BILLY WAS SO ELEGANTLY MOUNTED.

IF THAT BEAUTIFUL OLD BANNER HAD BEEN WORTH FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS, I'D HAVE FOUND THE WAY TO MAKE THE PURCHASE. DEALER'S LIKE SHOW-STOPPER PIECES, AND THIS WAS PERFECT AS A SIGNATURE PIECE, FOR A NEW SHOP WE WERE PLANNING TO OPEN ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE. SUZANNE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT IT, CONSIDERING MOST OF HER ANCESTORS HAD BEEN MEMBERS OF LOCAL LODGES, IN MUSKOKA LAKES IN THE PAST (THREE MILE LAKE AREA). "AH, YOU FOUND A KING BILLY…..AND YOU'VE ALREADY BOUGHT IT," SHE SAID, AS ED AND I PARADED THROUGH THE STORE…..IN CASE THERE WERE ANY ORANGEMEN THAT MIGHT HAVE WISHED TO FOLLOW ALONG. NOW THIS IS A STUPID THING TO BUY FOR A STORE, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT APPEAL TO ALL CUSTOMERS, PARTICULARLY THE IRISH CATHOLICS WE MIGHT HAVE HAD DROP BY, FROM TIME TO TIME. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY. A CONVERSATION PIECE. IT DIDN'T MEAN I WAS A LATENT ORANGEMAN, JUST AN ADMIRER OF FOLK ART AND TRADITION. AS I LIKE BARGAINS AND TRADITION, THIS FIT PERFECTLY. I PAID SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS.

BEFORE WE ACTUALLY MOVED INTO OUR MAINSTREET STORE, WE OPERATED A LITTLE COLLECTIBLE SHOP IN OUR GARAGE, ON GOLDEN BEACH ROAD IN BRACEBRIDGE. WE HAD IT JAMMED FULL OF ALL KINDS OF NEAT STUFF, BUT AS A BUSINESS LOCATION IT SUCKED….AND WOULD ONLY ATTRACT A DOZEN CUSTOMERS A WEEK. WE DECIDED TO SELL THE HOUSE, AS THE MARKET THEN WAS EXPLODING, AND POSSIBLY FIND A BETTER PROPERTY TO PURSUE BUSINESS. IN THE MEANTIME, "KING BILLY" WAS FULLY UNFURLED, AND WITH THE CARRYING-POSTS ANCHORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE, AND THE STREAMERS HANGING DOWN AS IF READY TO ROLL….IN THE VERY NEXT PARADE TO WANDER BY, IT WAS JUST THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR OLD PINE, CROCKS, BUFFETS, SIDEBOARDS, SLEIGHS, SKIS AND VINTAGE CHINA. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS PERFECT…..BUT THE COLORS AND THE WHOLE VINTAGE, CEREMONIAL BANNER-THING, JUST ENHANCED EVERYTHING ELSE ON DISPLAY. TRUTHFULLY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE USED THE BANNER IN THIS FASHION. I WAS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE TRADITIONS OF THE ORANGE LODGE. I WAS LOOKING TO PROFIT FROM IT, AND THAT MADE IT SEEM SO MUCH WORSE. BUT I LOVED IT THERE, CONSEQUENCE BE DAMNED.

SO WITH REAL ESTATE TOURS HAPPENING EVERY OTHER DAY, WE JUST LEFT EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP THE WAY IT WAS…..HOPING POTENTIAL BUYERS WOULD SEE PAST THE CLUTTER, TO BE ABLE TO IMAGINE THEIR OWN CARS TUCKED SAFELY INSIDE. WE MUST HAVE HAD THIRTY TOURS THAT SUMMER SEASON, BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GOT A BUYER. THE SECOND LAST REAL ESTATE TOUR WAS A WINNER…..AT LEAST IN IMPACT. SO IMAGINE IF YOU CAN, THE VERY FOLKS YOU WOULD NOT WANT EXPOSED TO A WILLIAM OF ORANGE PARADE BANNER. IF YOU SAID IRISH, OF CATHOLIC FAITH, YOU'D BE BANG ON. HOW DID I KNOW THERE WAS A REAL ESTATE AGENT WITH THOSE PRECISE QUALITIES OF HERITAGE AND FAITH, TO POP THROUGH THAT GARAGE DOOR, WITH CLIENTS IN TOW…..ONLY TO BE MET AT THE CONFLUENCE OF PINE ROCKERS, AND A HOOSIER CUPBOARD, WITH LESS THAN WELCOMING BANNER-ART. THE ICY GLARE OF A BOLD AND CONQUERING, KING WILLIAM OF ORANGE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THIS ELDERLY IRISH GENTLEMAN, A SORT OF FATHER O'MALLY TYPE (PLAYED IN THE MOVIE BY BING CROSBY) RESORTING TO SOME INAUDIBLE CURSING….SO AS NOT TO RUIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THE HOUSE, WONDERING IN GOD'S NAME, WHAT HE HAD UNCOVERED IN THE MUSKOKA COUNTRYSIDE….OF OLD BATTLES BETWEEN THE ORANGE AND THE GREEN.

"NICE ONE TED," SUZANNE MUTTERED, AS WE TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS, TO REAFFIRM, AND EXPLAIN OUR RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN SUCH MATTERS…..THAT WE REALLY, NOT EVEN ON ONE OF OUR MOST CELEBRATORY DAYS, WOULD THINK OF TAKING THAT BANNER FOR A STROLL THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE DIDN'T SELL OUR HOUSE. WONDER WHY? "YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID," SUZANNE ADDED, TO THE EXTENDED BERATING SHE'D BEEN BESTOWING ON ME, FOR A HALF HOUR AT LEAST. "WHY COULDN'T YOU BE A NORMAL ANTIQUE DEALER, AND SELL PAINTED CROCKS OR NICE OLD QUILTS." I HAD NO ANSWER. AFTER A QUARTER CENTURY TO THINK ABOUT IT….I STILL HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ON THE MATTER. WELL, ONE THING. I'D BUY ANOTHER KING BILLY IN A HEARTBEAT….BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A CONVERSATION STARTER IN AN OTHERWISE CONSERVATIVE, RESERVED, POLITE AND OFTEN POLITICALLY CORRECT PROFESSION. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN BY A SIGNATURE PIECE, THAT REFLECTS ON THE DEALER'S TRUE INTERESTS….DESPITE WHAT YOU SEE OTHERWISE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SHOPS. I AM AN ARSE! AT LEAST I ADMIT IT! AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER, TWO TIMES AN ARSE. BET I CAN MAKE YOU LAUGH. PUT THAT WITH THE REALITY I WAS ABLE TO DOUBLE MY MONEY ON KING BILLY, (AND SOLD THE HOUSE THE NEXT WEEK), AND CRACK-UP FOLKS WHO SELDOM EVER LAUGH…….YUP, I'D DO IT ALL AGAIN. NO DISRESPECT TO KING WILLIAM OF ORANGE, MIND YOU.

WHEN THE SIMPLE, BASIC, WONDERFUL QUALITIES OF NATURE ARE COMPLICATED BY TOO MUCH OF EVERYTHING

GULL LAKE PARK IS A JEWEL TO BE PRESERVED NOT A FOR PROFIT VENUE

OVER THE PAST YEAR, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO FANDANGO, RIGHT THROUGH THE LOCAL BUREAUCRACY, AND THEIR LESS THAN STELLAR ACTIONS AND REACTIONS, REGARDING THE FAILING CONDITION OF "THE BARGE," THE FAMOUS ENTERTAINMENT ISLAND, AT GRAVENHURST'S GULL LAKE PARK. THE PROBLEM IS A SIMPLE ONE. WOOD ROTS. DESPITE LAYER UPON LAYER OF PAINT, SURFACE BOARDS, EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, PRE-OCCUPIED WITH MANY OTHER CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, OVER ABOUT A DECADE, FIGURED OTHERWISE. AND THEY LET THE STRUCTURE OF THE BARGE DETERIORATE. THAT'S CLEARLY NOT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR INVESTMENT. DID I MENTION, THE BARGE IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SUMMER-TIME VENUES.

THE BARGE HAS HAD AN AMAZING HISTORY DATING BACK MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY. IT WOULD TAKE A SUBSTANTIAL TEXT….A MEATY BOOK, TO PROFILE THE ENTERTAINERS WHO HAVE PLAYED THAT TINY, MAN-MADE, GULL LAKE ISLAND. THE LONGEST SERVING MANAGER OF THE BARGE, FRED SCHULZ, HAS BEEN RUNNING THIS WELL ATTENDED VENUE FOR DECADES, AND HE HAS ALWAYS "JUST MADE-DO" WITH WHAT HE'S HAD TO WORK WITH…..A TIGHT, TIGHT BUDGET, WITHOUT A LOT OF ROOM FOR EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, WHICH WERE REQUIRED FIVE YEARS AGO. FRED WOULD INITIATE SMALL, AFFORDABLE REPAIRS, MANY UNDERTAKEN BY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, BUT THOSE CLOSE TO HIM, COULD SEE THAT HE WAS CROSSING HIS FINGERS ALOT…..HOPING AGAINST HOPE, THAT A SUDDEN STORM OR PUSH OF WINTER ICE, WOULDN'T SINK HIS LITTLE WOODEN AND FIBREGLASS ISLAND.

THE TOWN SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKING ON THAT STRUCTURE EVERY YEAR, TO MAKE SURE THE PILLARS SUPPORTING THE PLATFORM, WERE PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE BRACING OF THE STAGE. FINDING OUT THAT QUITE A FEW OF THEM WEREN'T SECURELY ATTACHED, LAST YEAR, SUGGESTS TO A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS TOWN, STEWARDSHIP WASN'T A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST. IF IT WAS A BIG DEAL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A THOROUGH INSPECTION EVERY YEAR. NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE MANAGER, DUE TO HIS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT ITS SAFE USE, TO CONDUCT ONGOING CONCERTS. IT WAS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER FOR MR. SCHULZ LAST YEAR, WHO HELD UP PRETTY WELL, DESPITE HAVING A DOZEN REASONS I CAN THINK OF, FOR ABANDONING SHIP ENTIRELY. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE. BUT THEN THE TOWN SEEMED TO COME AROUND, AND FRANKLY, I WAS STARTING TO THINK SERIOUS CONCERN WAS BEING SHOWN, FOR ITS FUTURE WELL-BEING. I MUST ADMIT, AS AN OPTIMIST, I'M HAVING MY DOUBTS TODAY.

THE PROBLEM NOW, IS THAT REPAIRS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BARGE, LIKE A LONG-OVERDUE ROOF STRUCTURE, MUST BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND THIS WILL INVOLVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY. THEN THERE IS A PLAN TO CONSTRUCT SOME TYPE OF AMPHITHEATRE, THAT MAY INVOLVE CARVING OUT A CHUNK OF GULL LAKE PARK EMBANKMENT, AS A SORT OF ENTERTAINMENT BUNKER. APPARENTLY IT WILL LOOK NICE, AND HAVE MUSKOKA-LIKE ATTRIBUTES. YOU KNOW….NICE WOODWORK ON TOP OF CONCRETE, I SUPPOSE. REMEMBER THE WOOD WORK I REFERRED TO EARLIER IN THIS BLOG……AND HOW IT WAS IGNORED EXCEPT FOR THE ANNUAL PAINTING OVER ROT PROCEDURE…..POSSIBLY A WAY OF BREAKING IN THE NEW PARKS AND RECREATION SUMMER-SEASON RECRUITS. WHILE A ROOF ON THE BARGE WOULD BE NICE, BECAUSE IT WOULD ASSIST FRED GREATLY, AND PREVENT SOME RAIN-OUTS, IT HOPEFULLY WON'T BE LUMPED ON TOP OF THE OTHER EXPENSES, SUCH AS BASIC STRUCTURAL REPAIRS. THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH RAIN-OUT ALTERNATIVE SITES, DUE TO THE REFURBISHING OF THE RECREATION CENTRE……AND THE FACT THEY BUILT AN AUDITORIUM WAY TOO SMALL TO HOUSE THE HUGE CROWDS THAT COME TO SEE "MUSIC ON THE BARGE" CONCERTS. GO FIGURE! THE OPERA HOUSE MANAGEMENT DOESN'T LIKE HAVING THEIR VENUE TIED-UP ON SUNDAY EVENINGS, AS A CONCERT SITE ALTERNATIVE, AND THE SEATING IS STILL TOO SMALL.

MANY CONCERT GOERS ARE FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY WHEN THEY FIND NO SEATS AVAILABLE FOR THESE RAIN-OUTS. FRED HEARS IT ALL. IT'S ONE OF THER REASONS A ROOF ON THE BARGE DOES MAKE SENSE OVERALL, BUT ONLY IF THE BOARDS AND THE SUNKEN IRON SUPPORTS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. MY POINT? IN ORDER TO HELP MR. SCHULZ RUN HIS VENUE THIS SEASON, THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IS FINDING THE MONEY TO FIX WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED YEARS AGO. MANY OF US WERE OF THE BELIEF, THIS MONEY WAS SET-ASIDE PRIOR TO THE 2012 BUDGET, AS IT DAMN WELL SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT CONCERNED REPAIRS HAVEN'T COMMENCED YET, CONSIDERING THE ADVANTAGES OF THE ICE ON THE LAKE, FROM WHICH TO WORK. I'M PRETTY SURE, IF I ASKED FRED, THE 2012 BARGE SEASON HAS ALREADY BEEN BOOKED, AND WITH THE FAILING CONDITION OF THE BARGE GENERALLY, IS IT INSURABLE TO USE WITHOUT IMPROVEMENTS? OR IS THE ROTARY PAVILLION GOING TO BE SUBSTITUTED BY OFFICIAL DECREE, AS THE NEW AND IMPROVED BARGE WITH A ROOF.

THE TOWN MUST STEP UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, ON THIS ONE, AND NOT FOB-IT-OFF ON THE TAXPAYERS TO HELP THEM MAKE A DECISION….WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE CAN HAVE, AND MUST SHELVE BECAUSE OF BUDGET LIMITATIONS. THE TOWN ALLOWED THE BARGE TO SINK IN DISREPAIR, WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ITS LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP. APPARENTLY A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAD NO INTEREST IN THE BARGE, OR IF IT ONE DAY, JUST FLOATED AWAY TO A DISTANT SHORE. THE ALLUSION HERE NOW, IS THAT COUNCIL GIVES A CRAP, AND WANTS TO BESTOW NOT ONLY A ROOF, BUT AN AMPHITHEATRE, ON A SITE THAT ONLY A YEAR AGO, THEY HAD AT BEST, ONLY A MARGINAL INTEREST…..AND MADE REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A TIGHT SPOT IN PUBLIC OPINION…..ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE NEAR-WILD SPENDING ON THE TOWN HALL, AND NEW RECREATION CENTRE. THE BARGE DESERVED THEIR ATTENTION TEN YEARS EARLIER. INSTEAD, THEY GOT ANOTHER BOX OF PAINT CANS, BRUSHES AND SHEZAM, A BRAND NEW (APPEARING) BARGE.

GULL LAKE PARK IS A WONDERFUL OASIS FOR THE TOWNSFOLK TO ENJOY. THE MAJORITY OF DAY-USERS OF THE PARK PROBABLY WON'T CARE WHETHER THERE IS AN AMPHITHEATRE CARVED INTO THE SHORELINE OR NOT…..JUST THAT THEY HAVE A NICE PLACE TO SWIM AND PICNIC. THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS OF CONCERT-GOERS, ON THOSE BEAUTIFUL SUMMER NIGHTS, WHO WILL PARK THEIR FANNIES IN AN AMPHITHEATRE, IF IT IS AVAILABLE. NO QUESTION. BUT IS THIS A NECESSARY EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY (GRANTS ARE COURTESY OF TAXPAYERS BY THE WAY), WHEN ALL THAT IS NEEDED, HONESTLY, IS AN ARRAY OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAKE THE BARGE SAFE TO USE……AND THE PARK, A NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED PLACE TO VISIT AND ENJOY.

MANY PARENTS MIGHT SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WOULD BE SWELL, OR BETTER WASHROOMS AND CHANGE AREAS, AND IF THEY HAD THE CHOICE BETWEEN PUTTING MONEY INTO INSTALLED SEATING, VERSUS MORE PICNIC TABLES AND SIMPLE BENCH SEATING, I THINK FOLKS MIGHT BE SWAYED TO OPT FOR THE LEAST INTRUSIVE CHANGES TO A PARK THEY LOVE, AS IT IS!

I DON'T SPEAK FOR THE MAJORITY. DEMOCRACY WILL SERVE THAT PURPOSE. AND IF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WANTS THE PARK TURNED INTO A GRAVENHURST WONDERLAND OF ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION, THEN THIS SHALL BE THE "BETTER PLAN," FOR THE MAJORITY OF PARK USERS. ON THE OTHER HAND, I STILL HAVE FAITH THAT MOST CITIZENS HERE, AND OUR VISITORS, COME TO THIS PARK BECAUSE OF ITS SIMPLE PLEASURES, AND BEAUTIFUL VIEW, FOUR SEASONS OF THE YEAR. THEY WILL STILL COME AND ENJOY THE PARKLAND WITHOUT AN AMPHITHEATRE, AND A BIGGER PLAYGROUND, OR EVEN IF THEY HAD TO SIT ON A SPREAD-OUT BLANKET ON THE GROUND. EVEN IF THERE WAS NO BARGE AT ALL, AND FRED WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF A CONCERT ON THE BASEBALL DIAMOND, FOLKS WOULD COME AS THEY HAVE FOR YEARS. SURE, THEY'D COMPLAIN, BUT MUSIC SOOTHES THE SAVAGE BEAST, AFTER ALL, AND PRETTY SOON IT WOULD BECOME THE NEW NORM AROUND HERE.

THE POINT IS, THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS STILL A POWERFUL DRAW TO OUR TOWN……GULL LAKE PARK AND THE BARGE, AND OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS PARK, AS TAXPAYERS, HAS BEEN PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. IN FACT, IT IS THE REASON THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS AND THE TOWN ARE GETTING TURNED ON TO THIS BIGGER AND BETTER THING…….MONEY….MONEY…..MONEY. SO THAT'S ALL IT TOOK, TO GET THESE SAME FOLKS TO LOOK MORE SERIOUSLY AT THE BARGE AND THE PARK…..ECONOMIC STIMULUS. YOU SEE, IT BECOMES LESS AND LESS ABOUT FOLKS ENJOYING THE PARK, AND ITS SIMPLE ATTRIBUTES, AND MORE ABOUT MONEY MAKING……YET WE HAVE AN UNDER UTILIZED OPERA HOUSE, ON THE MAIN STREET OF OUR TOWN……THAT COULD BE A DANDY PROFIT MAKER….BUT…….

THE BARGE NEEDS TO BE RESTORED. THE MONEY SHOULD BE FOUND IN THE TOWN COFFERS, IN A RAINY DAY FUND OR OTHERWISE, BECAUSE THIS MAJOR RESTORATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, IF SERIOUS STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS HAD BEEN CONDUCTED EVERY YEAR. THIS WAS THE FAULT OF MANY PREVIOUS COUNCIL TERMS, AND AS SUCH SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED A NEW PROJECT, STACKED-UP WITH OTHERS, TO SECURE NECESSARY FUNDING TO REMAIN FUNCTIONAL. YOU DO NOT READ THAT THIS IS THE CASE, IN TODAY'S GRAVENHURST BANNER ARTICLE, POSITIONED ON THE FRONT PAGE.

OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED AND LONGTERM SUPPORTERS OF THE BARGE, AND FAITHFULLY IN ATTENDANCE, FOR FRED'S WONDERFUL CONCERT SERIES. OUR BOYS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, ARE TWO OF FOUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS, WITH FRED EVERY SUNDAY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SCHEDULE. SO IF YOU THINK WE'RE CHUCKING STUFF FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY…..WELL, WE'RE A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT!

Ghosts, Memories, Antiques and an Old House

ANTIQUES THAT HOLD THEIR SPIRITS - I'VE HAD A FEW OVER THE YEARS

THE GHOST OF TORRANCE HAS LONG HAUNTED ME

HERE IS AN EDITORIAL PIECE I JOTTED DOWN QUICKLY, A SHORT WHILE AGO, WHILE PREPARING A NEW SERIES OF COLUMNS, FOR A PUBLICATION CALLED "THE GREAT NORTH ARROW," DEALING WITH MY EARLY PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES. SOME BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION HAS ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED ON THIS BLOG PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT'S NECESSARY FOR BACKGROUND, TO INCLUDE IT WITH TODAY'S BLOG AS WELL.

THERE WERE A LOT OF EVENTS IN MY LIFE, DATING BACK TO BURLINGTON, AND GROWING UP WITH THE SOUNDS OF FOG-HORNS BLASTING OUT ON LAKE ONTARIO, THAT HAVE HAUNTED ME EVER SINCE. NOTHING FRIGHTENING. BUT EVENTS AND PEOPLE I WAS ASSOCIATED WITH, THAT HAD A HAUNTING, EERIE QUALITY, THAT COME BACK TO ME FREQUENTLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WRITING ABOUT PARANORMAL SITUATIONS I HAVE FOUND MYSELF IN……EVER SINCE. I GUESS BY REPEATING THEM, I AM JUST TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT THEY WERE ALL ABOUT, FROM A DISTANCE OF ABOUT A HALF CENTURY. I WAS A SICKLY KID. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY DEFINABLE DISEASE, OR DISABILITY. WHEN I GOT A COLD OR THE INFLUENZA, I'D BE HORRIBLY SICK, SOMETIMES FOR WEEKS. I'VE OFTEN WONDERED HOW MANY OF MY EXPERIENCES HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE PROLONGED PERIODS OF ILLNESS. IN ONE OF THESE LENGTHY BOUTS, AS I WROTE ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, I HAD A VISITATION FROM AN ANGEL. OR DREAMED I DID. HOW MANY READING THIS TODAY, CAN RECALL A DREAM THEY HAD, AT ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS OF AGE? MINE IS AS CLEAR TODAY, AS THE MOMENT I EMERGED FROM THE HIGH FEVER THAT ALMOST KILLED ME.

Even as a kid, trundling home from school, there were things I found along the way, that I couldn't resist scooping up as found-treasure. I'd arrive home to our Burlington apartment, with pockets full of this and that, leaving my mother Merle to figure out, when I wasn't looking, how to free our abode of toads, grasshoppers, old bits of metal, some shiny rocks, and chestnuts in various stages of decomposition. She threw out three quarters of everything I collected, from broken hockey sticks, to neat old bottles found down in the thickly overgrown ravine of Ramble Creek.

I was attracted to certain things by forces unknown. At least that's what Merle used to tell the neighbors, when she saw me coming up Harris Crescent with pockets bulging and overflowing, while swinging a ball bat, or old hockey stick I found alongside the road. Strangely though, she was right about some things, regarding those early acts of acquisition. There was something that "made me do it," and it wasn't a voice in my head, directing my actions. It was a feeling then, just as it has always been throughout my collecting life. I will encounter a relic, an antique or collectible in a shop, at a yard sale, or at an auction, that I'm drawn to for more than the capital value. As an antique dealer I do operate on a for-profit basis, even though my wife, the accountant, questions this frequently, when I come home with something else truly bizarre, to what we normally acquire to refurbish and re-sell.

One of my most poignant recollections, of a childhood experience, where I truly felt in the company of the spirits, came in a most casual, spontaneous way, making me feel on that particular day, as if I was being urged by something unknown, to visit an old house in the neighborhood,……then only a few days from being crushed by earth movers. It was to make way for the construction of a large apartment tower amidst some wonderful late Victorian architecture. The old estate, on Torrance Avenue, that looked so storied and charming amidst the wreath of venerable old hardwoods, and the ever-popular chestnut grove bordering the road, was facing its last few days as prominent architecture in our neighborhood of Burlington, Ontario. Which was a short hike to the shore of Lake Ontario, and a place that was often brushed by thick morning fog, and the muted sound of fog-horns from huge freighters passing somewhere on the bay. It was a little bit Hollywood, in scenery, perfect for a ghost story, but at this time of my young, impressionable life, I didn't have much knowledge of spirits or their ilk. I was just a curious little snot, usually with the arse ripped out of his pants, and a tangle of torn knee patches on both legs, with pockets-full of interesting livestock etc. I was an "eyes wide open" kid. I was an antique hunter in training, long before i knew what an antique was all about.

On this one afternoon, coming home from Lakeshore Public School, my chums and I paused to look at the sad old relic, awaiting the final blows of the wrecking ball, to bring it all down to earth. It had been left this way, for some time, and it didn't take too much chiding, back pushing, and triple-daring before we decided to pool our collective bravado, and the thin, still growing, shreds of our male hubris, to challenge what our parents had instilled, rather burdened upon us, about invading private property. They taught us to respect signs that stated "no trespassing." Have you ever broken trust before? Found a way to circumnavigate some unfair imposition? We wanted to see the heart of this house before it was no more. I had been fighting this urge for weeks, and there wasn't a time, as I walked by, when "old house" and "kid" didn't subtly exchange glances, that I didn't feel the tug on the old heart-strings, a pull on my wanderlust, to just make a friendly visit. Even just a head-poke, through the half-open front door, to glance both ways, around the corner. What harm could that do? As a career antique dealer, this has been the most often repeated question, and the common thread of a great deal of unravelling.

Of course, I was a collector, even as a kid, so I imagined there would be all sorts of stuff strewn about, to haul home for Merle to then throw out. You know, I sort of suspected she was culling my stuff, but I wanted to believe she was removing it from my room, to pack away in those old trunks I knew she stored in the basement. What a fool I was! My wife has been known to exercise similar culls but I'm seasoned to the ways of neat freaks, and intercept the garbage before it is gone forever. On more than just a few occasions, I've had to pull a collectible from a garbage hauler's clutches, before it wound up in the crusher in the back of that truck.

The house invited us. We all felt it. We all knew, well in advance, we were going to trespass, consequences be damned! But it was the mysterious allure the house possessed, much as if someone quite invisible, was beckoning from the half-wrecked doorway, to come inside for a wee peak. There isn't an inquisitive child alive who could resist the allure. What was left inside? Scrounger's rights! Finders keepers! I could find all kinds of justification, for defying every rule, civil and otherwise, to work my mates into a frenzy of self righteousness. God wanted us to enter that old house.

Once inside the door, which of course involved a typical amount of pushing and "you go first" challenges, it was definitely a treat for the senses. It was quite dilapidated by this point of its forced-decline, and there had been doors and built-in cabinets ripped from the walls, corner cupboards unfastened, leaving ugly holes in the wall. Even the mantle was gone and everywhere there was evidence of home-wreckers, having swung their hammers and prying bars. There were broken Christmas ornaments strewn on the floor, and pages from old magazines and newspapers crumpled in corners and in doorless closets. There were dishes on an old table, and drinking glasses on the remnants of a kitchen counter. As we chums wandered slowly, in awe, from room to room, we picked up little keepsakes from the floor, that attracted our darting and weaving span of attention, in the lowly lit environs of what had once been, a truly magnificent home. I remember the curious way light shone through the stained glass on some of the old windows.

What we all experienced on that afternoon, exploring the soon-to-be-toppled house, was strangely significant to the area of the building we travelled. I can remember rooms on the main floor that were bright and cheerful, even with diffused light from outside. At times we'd feel giddy and giggle, just to hear the echo through the empty rooms. Then without any provocation or inspired fear, of being detected, wandering through the old house, I'd be consumed by a feeling of dread, a sudden sadness, and without warning, my heart would begin to race. Much as if my soul had encountered something ominous, I was yet to be fully aware. Each passage-way, every room, each light from a window, made the house look cheery then profoundly eerie, within a very short footfall. I had little idea what it meant to be "haunted" or to be in a haunted house, except what I may have felt on Hallowe'en, dressed up in a sheet, with two eye-holes cut out…..or what I could have watched on the television, that presented something malevolent as subject matter. This was a feeling poignantly strange, and it sank into my mind with great ease, that I was walking through a place that was still very much occupied by entities, I really needed to understand. The more intense the feeling, the more I wanted to explore the rooms. I wasn't frightened, and I don't think the feelings I had experienced, were shared by the other three chums. At least they never admitted to anything, or any fears other than facing a police officer, or our parents, should we be found out. But there were reasons for sensing my surroundings in this way. I knew we were being watched by something. I've had this sensation many times in the past, and it has always linked to some paranormal encounter…..always as inadvertent as it was then…..right in the middle of a great and memorable childhood adventure. Ghosts hadn't been on our minds. I know I was imposed upon that day but it had nothing to do with fear or loathing of spirit-kind. It was as if I was being asked for help save this doomed Victorian estate. I felt as if I was being exposed to a message that wasn't quite connecting. I still miss more of these than I pick-up, on my modern day adventures.

Even to this day, I get clear and profound impressions of houses, and their occupants, many from past lives, by just walking up to the front door of a home. I'm not clairvoyant and have no aspirations to hang out a shingle that I'm the new medium on the block. But since that exploratory mission, into that old Burlington estate, my senses have been ever-activated. Admittedly, some houses seem to repel me, more than welcome my visitation. I respect this. I'm not scared of these experiences but there's no way I will ever stop feeling the presence of occupants…….that aren't really there….at least in a mortal coil sort of way. Critics will argue that we all pick up the aura of an occupied house, and should feel a sense of loss, walking through a vacant abode, especially like the one I've described above. Possibly then, we are, by this measure, reacting instinctively to the aura, the remnant patina of the human / architectural relationship, forged beneath these old timbers. Sensory attempts to warn and advise us, about the prevailing circumstance, of what has happened in the past.

I feel the same about certain items of antique furniture, from old steamer trunks to cradles, dressers, flat-to-the-wall cupboards, especially those that have been handcrafted in pioneer workshops. I must admit, I have less reaction to factory manufactured pieces, admittedly with less interest by the attending carpenter,….in comparison to a handcrafted pine cradle for example, made by a doting father, full of expectation about a family on the way. The intensity of study on the piece, starts at this stage, and only grows greater over the years of its use, and situation with its owner family…..and all the other owner /users from that time forward. Now consider the child spirit in the cradle and all the life and death occurrences following, and you have an intensity that is as much a part of the patina, as the color and wear of the aging wood and paint.

When I left that Burlington home, feeling satisfied that I'd seen the house from basement to attic, there was no doubt in my mind, leaving that tired and broken building, that it was still very much an inhabited estate, and that my mates and I had, in some small way, stirred up the invisible residents on a sort of farewell tour. I grabbed a number of souvenirs from that trip, and I don't remember just what was in my hand while exiting, but the most important aspect of the afternoon, was that I learned something about strong feelings, history, and connectedness from one generation to another…..seen and unseen. In fact, for 56 years, 35 in professional authordom, I have kept that fledgling, exciting, insightful experience close to my heart; such that in one way or another, it has been used as inspiration a thousand times or more, in a wide variety of writing projects.

I could never, no matter how many words expended, detail with any precision or corresponding common sense, how this old, soon-to-be-gone house, became my sort-of muse for all these years; that you too might honestly share the sense of union I felt, amongst those wafting memories and unspecified regrets; ghosts maybe, that haunted those rooms until the walls finally tumbled down. They apparently found a home in my subconscious, where we've been revisiting the old haunt regularly, always finding that place and time in my personal history, something worth maintaining and a story eagerly retold. A parallel experience, might be if you were to suddenly appear at a former abode, you spent your childhood, and sense part of your spirit still dwelling within…..the ghosts of your past wandering through the same rooms and halls, up and down the stairs, as if nothing at all was different…..except of course, the belongings now, laid-out beneath this roof, from another resident family reminding, eerily, sadly, that time has passed…..but not been forgotten. It has been said that a little of our soul is spread over the places we have lived and miles we have travelled, and that when our spirit finally leaves our human life, it re-traces all of these places we once occupied…..even for a short while, as a sort of paranormal retrospective.

I would like to, in some future blogs, illustrate this point more clearly, by profiling some experiences I've had over the decades, as an antique dealer, frequently attracted to pieces that may or may not be haunted…..somewhat as I felt strangely compelled to enter an old house, on the off chance, of finding something neat to scoff. While it's a stretch, obviously, to compare an old cedar trunk, with provenance, to an historic estate, my exposure to the sensation of occupation, as a child, has inspired a great awareness as a collector…..that some pieces, strange or not, have an attraction that goes well beyond the patina of the wood, or the feel of the fabric. Truth is, I can feel something extra, as if the essence of the item's builder, or former owner….a child, possibly, is still somehow connected. There are many stories told of cradles rocking without an occupant or attendant, rocking chairs moving of their own accord, and organs playing without the slightest touch of mortal hand. My stories aren't quite so compelling and interesting, but we've had a few unusual events attached to certain acquired pieces. Nothing fearful or disturbing. Just curious in a paranormal context.

Maybe you have felt the same at times. Feeling it necessary to stop at an antique sale, to examine a piece that, under normal circumstances, you wouldn't think twice about acquiring. What made you stop for a second look? Did your grandmother have something similar? Could it be a sign from someone who has crossed, trying to remind you about a favorite quilt or cushion, old rocking horse or cradle, that you used to play with when visiting. For those who validate the existence, in spirit form, of those who have crossed over, few would deny the possibility, that sentiment and emotion are routinely tweaked by forces unknown, to make us aware of our past…..and our future; if we only had a few moments to ponder the associations, and signs apparent. I wander around, most of the time, with this openness to suggestion….willingness to entertain even the slightest remembrance, that puts me in mind of those friends and family, who were so important to my well being. When my wife hears me laughing at something, while on an antique shop walk-about, she recognizes immediately, Ted's had a poignant reminiscence…..quite out of the blue. Always in the strangest, and most obscure of places in the shop, it seems. But I know, as soon as I enter, like my feeling of all buildings, something is going to tap me on the shoulder, or peak my curiosity, and moreso than a for-profit purchase, I will likely be hauling something home that, I love saying to my wife, "spoke to me!"

I don't see dead people as such. I feel them though. I sense them, and quite enjoy the feeling and enthralling allure of a limitless universe of possibility, where there are no rules of engagement. As some folks say, "you just go with the flow."

I will leave today's blog, with one final story that I have never come to understand, or identify as having been true, or simply a figment of an over-active child's imagination. It was after school one afternoon, that I was wandering along the rocky, overgrown shore of Ramble Creek, not too far from Lakeshore Boulevard, and the bridge just before the wider view of Lake Ontario. I came through a clearing and could hear a rhythmic creaking of what sounded like a swing set. I came out into a small clearing along the embankment of the creek, and I could see a girl swinging back and forth in the yard of a house I hadn't seen before. I didn't know the girl, and even though I'd come this far many times before, this house was new to me. When the girl, about my age at the time….seven or eight, spotted me, she jumped off the swing and beckoned me to cross over the limestone pads that formed a bridge. I did so, and she took my hand immediately, to lead me back to the swing set. I can so clearly remember swinging side by side that sunny spring afternoon. When the sun started to weaken, I told her it was time for me to leave, for the hike back home. She took my hand again, and walked me to the shore, and the trail of stones across the fast, shallow water. When I looked at her, I saw tears streaking down her pale face. She did not want me to leave. She insisted I return again, to play on the swings, just as we had that afternoon. I felt heartsick about leaving her. I wanted to race back over those limestone pads and hug her. It was as if I'd known this girl from another life, as we had such a strange connection I didn't understand. I couldn't have understood at that age.

I made many trips back along that winding Ramble Creek, and never saw her again. Nobody I asked knew who she was, yet there was a swing set, out in the yard, exactly where it had been on that day. I remember her telling me, this was her house, and that she went to the same school as I did…….but apparently, not on the same plane as I occupied. Had I been swinging with a ghost? As a matter of irony, it was adjacent to the old house I have been writing about, on Torrance Avenue. I can still hear that swing, as if it was at my side this very moment….just as I can see her tear stained face, and the blue eyes that begged me to stay. What if I had remained? Might I also, have become a ghost of Ramble Creek?

Thank you for joining my blog. More adventures to come. Please join me.

Antiques and Setting Sensible Valuations

THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OVER-PRICING

GENERAL ANTIQUE DEALERS FACE MANY PIT-FALLS, AND SO DO THEIR BUYERS

AN ELDERLY LADY CAME INTO MY SHOP, IN BRACEBRIDGE, ONE BITTERLY COLD WINTER AFTERNOON, SAID HELLO, SMILED, AND SOFTLY WHISPERED "I HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU." OF ALL THE STATEMENTS, IN ALL THE CULTURES OF ALL THE WORLD, I HATE THIS ONE THE MOST. IT'S WHAT I USED TO GET AS EDITOR OF THE LOCAL WEEKLY, USUALLY AFTER THE FIRST HOUR THE PAPER HAD HIT THE NEWSTANDS. THERE'S ALWAYS TROUBLE ATTACHED TO THAT LINE. THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION.

FROM A PLASTIC BAG OVER HER ARM, SHE DUG DEEP IN A RUSTLE OF WRAPPING PAPER, TO PRODUCE A SMALL PICTURE I HAD SOLD HER A FEW DAYS EARLIER. "THE TAG ON THIS PICTURE SAID THAT IT WAS A WATERCOLOR, AND NOW I KNOW IT ISN'T," SHE SUGGESTED, GIVING ME A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE ART PIECE MYSELF. "I REALLY LIKE THE PICTURE, BUT I GOT IT BECAUSE IT SAID IT WAS A WATERCOLOR, AND THEN I FOUND IT WAS A PRINT, NOT AN ORIGINAL." SO HERE IS A STANDARD RESPONSE YOU WOULD RECEIVE FROM MANY COLLECTIBLE DEALERS, WITH EVEN JUST A FEW YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. "IT IS A WATERCOLOR, MAM. IT NEVER SAID IT WAS AN ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR, DID IT?" THE POINT BEING, THE PRINT WAS OF AN ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR, SO THE ACCOMPANYING DESCRIPTION WASN'T ENTIRELY WRONG. IT WAS "LACKING CLARITY" YOU MIGHT SAY. BUT IT STILL WAS MISLEADING IN MY OPINION, OF THE WAY VINTAGE MERCHANDISE SHOULD BE CAPTIONED. THE PICTURE BELONGED TO AN ASSOCIATE DEALER, I WAS WORKING WITH, ON A CONSIGNMENT BASIS. SHE HAD DONE-UP THE TAG, AND I WAS GUILTY, AS THE SHOP OWNER, OF NOT REVIEWING EVERYTHING, AND EVERY TAG, WHEN SHE'D BRING NEW INVENTORY TO BIRCH HOLLOW. I ALWAYS MAKE A STRICT POINT, ON MY OWN ART WORK, TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THE SUBJECT PIECE IS A PRINT, IN GENERAL OR LIMITED EDITIONS, AND IF IT IS AN ORIGINAL, SIGNED OR NOT. SO I DIDN'T SHOOT BACK WITH ANY ONE-LINER THAT WOULD ONLY EMPHASIZE THE TRUE TEST OF "BUYER BEWARE." I OFFERED A SINCERE APOLOGY, AND ASKED ONLY IF I COULD HAVE HER RECEIPT FOR THE REFUND.

"OH, I DON'T WANT A REFUND. I LIKE THE PICTURE. I HAVE A PERFECT SPOT IN MY KITCHEN FOR IT. I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THE TAG SHOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT IT WAS ONLY A PRINT, AND NOT AN ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR," SHE ANSWERED MY REQUEST FOR THE RECEIPT. "ACTUALLY, THERE'S ANOTHER PICTURE I'D LIKE TO BUY, IF YOU COULD TELL ME ABOUT IT, AND WHETHER YOU THINK IT IS ORIGINAL OR NOT." SHE BROUGHT ME THE SECOND SMALLER FRAMED PICTURE, THAT ALSO BELONGED TO MY SHOP PARTNER, AND THIS ONE WAS MARKED EXACTLY THE SAME. THIS ONE HOWEVER, WAS THE GENUINE ARTICLE….A NICE, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR LANDSCAPE, SIGNED ON THE BACK BY THE ARTIST. A GOOD BUY FOR UNDER TWENTY BUCKS.

I CAN GO THROUGH DOZENS OF ANTIQUE SHOPS AND MALLS AND FIND PARALLEL SITUATIONS, WHERE ART WORK PARTICULARLY IS NOT IDENTIFIED PROPERLY….OR AS IT SHOULD BE, FOR CUSTOMER CONVENIENCE. THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE PLACE FOR SALE, ESPECIALLY IN ART, THAT WE DON'T GUARANTEE AS ORIGINAL, OR AS A LIMITED EDITION PRINT. THERE IS NOTHING MORE EMBARRASSING TO ME, WITH MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE, THAN TO HAVE A CUSTOMER CALL ME ON THIS…..A PRINT BEING FOBBED-OFF AS AN ORIGINAL. A DEALER I KNEW FROM MUSKOKA, ONCE BRAGGED TO ME ABOUT THE LITTLE ENTERPRISE SHE WAS RUNNING, OF FRAMING OLD MAGAZINE ART IN VINTAGE FRAMES THEY COLLECTED, AND SELLING THEM IN ONLINE AUCTIONS. I WASN'T REALLY ALL THAT SURPRISED, BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS WHO DELIGHT AT DECEPTIONS LIKE THIS, WHO ROUTINELY MISREPRESENT THE ITEMS THEY ARE SELLING. DAMN RIGHT, BUYER BEWARE.

MANY GENERALIST DEALERS, WHO HAVE NO CLEAR PREFERENCE, OR STRONG-POINT OF WHAT THEY BUY AND SELL, MUST EDUCATE THEMSELVES BY IMMERSION. THERE ARE NO SHORT-CUTS TO IDENTIFICATION ISSUES, AND APPROPRIATE PRICING. THE INTERNET HAS GREATLY ASSISTED RESEARCH, IN THIS REGARD, AND WITH A MASSIVE COLLECTION OF GUIDEBOOKS, AND SPECIFIC HISTORIES OF GLASS AND CERAMIC FACTORIES, AS AN EXAMPLE, ITEM IDENTIFICATION SHOULD BE ON THE FRINGE BORDER OF FORENSIC…..MAYBE FURTHER. DEPENDING ON THE POTENTIAL VALUE, OR HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF A CERTAIN PIECE. MANY DEALERS I HAVE MET, FALL WAY SHORT OF EXPECTATION IN THIS DISCIPLINE, OF ACCURATELY PROFILING THEIR INVENTORY, TO BETTER SERVE THEIR CLIENTELE. IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE. YOU CAN'T RUN A BAKERY WITHOUT KNOWING HOW TO BAKE. YOU SIMPLY CAN'T BE AN ANTIQUE DEALER WITHOUT KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE RESEARCH, AND DETAILED REPRESENTATION TO MAKE SURE IT IS WHAT YOU CLAIM. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER IS A PIECE OF FENTON GLASS, THEN DON'T PUT IT ON THE LABEL AS "FENTON." A DEALER IS CERTAINLY ABLE TO SAY "IN THE FENTON STYLE," IF YOU CAN PROVE THAT ASSERTION TO BE CORRECT. CUSTOMERS WILL RESPECT THE HONESTY OF SUCH CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZED IDENTIFICATION. THEY REALIZE, AS ANTIQUE COLLECTORS THEMSELVES, YOU CAN'T KNOW EVERYTHING AND ABOUT EVERYTHING. UNLESS YOU SPECIALIZE, AND STICK WITH WHAT YOU KNOW BEST. THIS JUST ISN'T THE CASE FOR MOST ATTIC DEALERS AND SHOP OWNERS. THEY LOVE TO MIX AND MATCH, AND FRANKLY I LIKE THIS ABOUT ANTIQUE SHOPS, IF THE VENDORS ARE WILLING TO WORK THOROUGHLY TO PROPERLY ASSESS, AND APPROPRIATELY PRICE, THEIR WIDE ARRAY OF INVENTORY. THE "I LIKE IT, SO I'LL PRICE IT HIGH," THING, IS THE WORK OF AN AMATEUR. NOT A BUSINESS OWNER SEEKING STABILITY, AND KEEPING A LOYAL CLIENTELE.

THE ONUS ON THESE SHOPKEEPS, IS TO PUT INTEGRITY FIRST. THIS IS WHAT WE LOOK FOR, IN ANY RELATIONSHIP WE ESTABLISH WITH CONTEMPORARY DEALERS. IF WE DON'T LIKE THE "CUT OF THEIR JIB," WE DON'T RETURN. SUZANNE WILL TELL YOU, WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING FROM ME, THIS IS A LONGSTANDING TRADITION THAT HAS SERVED US WELL, SINCE WE BEGAN BIRCH HOLLOW BACK IN THE LATE 1980'S. FOR ME, IT DATES BACK LONGER. I AM FUSSY WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEALERS I KEEP COMPANY WITH. AND SINCE I BEGAN MY OWN WORK IN THE PROFESSION, I CAN COUNT FEWER THAN A DOZEN CASES, WHEN I REFUSED TO DO BUSINESS WITH CERTAIN DEALERS AND PICKERS, BECAUSE OF A SUSPICION OF UNSAVORY PRACTICES. CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS ETHICS. EVEN TODAY, THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY. I DON'T MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT, AND NEVER ONCE HAVE I NAMED THEM, OR TOLD ANY ONE OF MY TRUSTED COLLEAGUES. AS IT WAS MY OPINION, WITHOUT ABSOLUTE PROOF, OF THEIR ALLEGED DISHONEST TRANSACTIONS. I'VE HAD NO CHOICE, IN THESE CASES, BUT TO TRUST MY INSTINCTS. IT'S NOT ABOUT BLATANT DISHONESTY I MIGHT HAVE PERCEIVED, BUT RATHER WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, IF I WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN ASSOCIATE DEALER, A CLOSE BUSINESS COLLEAGUE. ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITEMS THEY HAD PURCHASED, AND ASSUMED I WAS PART OF THE ANTIQUE NETWORK. MOST OF THE DEALERS I KNOW ARE HIGHLY REPUTABLE, AND IF THEY MAKE A MISTAKE WITH IDENTIFICATION, OR THERE IS A CASE OF MISREPRESENTATION, THEY ARE WILLING TO CORRECT THE SITUATION IF BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION. I LIKE ASSOCIATE DEALERS WHO ARE APPROACHABLE AND EAGER TO DISCUSS PROFESSIONAL ISSUES. WE GET BETTER THE MORE WE SHARE INFORMATION. I JUST DON'T WANT TO HEAR STORIES LIKE THE ONE I MENTIONED ABOVE…..A DEALER FRAMING MAGAZINE ART AS LIMITED EDITION PRINTS, AND EVEN ORIGINAL ART.

FIRST EDITIONS. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST MISREPRESENTED AND POORLY IDENTIFIED ASPECTS OF THE OLD BOOK BUSINESS, IN BOTH ANTIQUE SHOP SETTINGS, AND IN ONLINE AUCTIONS. IF YOU WANT RARE BOOKS AND LEGITIMATE FIRST EDITIONS, YOU ARE WELL ADVISED TO VISIT SPECIALTY SHOPS, WITH A VENDOR WHO LIVES AND BREATHES THE LOVE FOR OLD BOOKS. IF YOU'RE AN OLD BOOK HOUND LIKE ME, YOU WILL OBVIOUSLY PREFER GOING INTO GENERAL INVENTORY COLLECTIBLE SHOPS, MOST LIKELY TO HAVE A LOW-PRICED GEM ON THE SHELF, THE DEALER IS UNAWARE OF…..OR HAVE MISLABELED AND OF COURSE, UNDER-VALUED. THESE ARE CALLED "SLEEPERS." THE GENERALIST ANTIQUE SHOP IS ALWAYS A GOOD PLACE FOR ME TO VISIT, AND ON OCCASION I CAN FIND AN UNDER-PRICED REGIONAL MUSKOKA HISTORY. THE INVENTORY OF THESE SHOPS IS USUALLY QUITE PREDICTABLE. SHELVES OF BOOK CLUB EDITIONS WITHOUT THEIR DUSTJACKETS, AND OLD, BEAT-UP SCHOOL TEXTS THAT WILL NEVER SELL. ONCE AND AWHILE, THEY WILL GET A BOX OF BOOKS IN, AND FOUR OR FIVE ARE OF SOME MINOR VALUE. A FEW OTHERS MAY HAVE UNDETECTED AUTOGRAPHS, OR NAMES OF BOOK OWNERS, A FEW WHO HAVE SIGNED, THE OTHERS IDENTIFIED ON THE BOOK PLATES, WHO ARE OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE RIGHT BUYER INTERESTED IN PROVENANCE MORE THAN CONTENT.

BUYING AND SELLING OLD BOOKS IS A PRECARIOUS BUSINESS, THAT REQUIRES A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF ACCUMULATED KNOWLEDGE, AND BUSINESS WISDOM, BECAUSE THE PITFALLS ARE DEEP AND VERY WIDE, AND SOMETIMES, A BIG HAIRY CLAW COMES OUT OF THE CREVICE, AND GRABS THE UNSUSPECTING, NAIVE BUYER, DOWN INTO THE ABYSS OF "BLOWN MONEY." I HAD A VERY WELL SPOKEN, INTELLIGENT GENTLEMAN APPROACH ME ONE DAY, IN MY BASEMENT SHOP, INTERESTED IN GETTING MY APPRAISAL ON A VERY WELL KNOWN WORK OF FICTION. HE HAD BOUGHT IT FROM A LOCAL SHOP, AND THE DEALER HAD GUARANTEED HIM THE BOOK WAS A FIRST EDITION. THE BOOK, "GONE WITH THE WIND," BY MARGARET MITCHELL. NOW THIS IS A PRICEY FIRST EDITION. IT WOULD BE A GIANT COUP, TO WALK INTO A HOLE-IN-THE-WALL SHOP, AND PICK UP A COPY OFF THE BOOKSHELF, THAT WAS CLEARLY, AND WITHOUT QUESTION A LEGITIMATE "FIRST EDITION." I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE GOING ODDS OF THIS, BUT YOU'D BE ONE OF THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH, AT THAT PRECISE MOMENT. IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT, USUALLY, ALTHOUGH BEING IN THE BUSINESS THIS LONG, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS WE SEE….THAT FRANKLY FLOORS US, BECAUSE THE ODDS ARE SO HEAVILY STACKED AGAINST. I COULD TELL THAT THIS RELEASE OF "GONE WITH THE WIND," WAS A BOOK CLUB EDITION, AND WAS MANY, MANY PRINTINGS AFTER THE ORIGINAL WAS MADE PUBLIC. I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS IMMEDIATELY BY THE SIZE OF THE BOOK, THE EXPOSED EDGING OF THE PAPER, THE QUALITY OF THE PAPER STOCK, AND THE COVERING ON THE BOARDS AND THE DUSTJACKET ITSELF. I ASKED HIM WHAT HE HAD PAID FOR IT, AND HE SAID "IT WAS A BARGAIN. I OFFERED THE GUY FIVE BUCKS, AND HE TOOK IT….NOT BAD FOR A FIRST EDITION," HE ASKED, BUT IT SOUNDED MORE LIKE A STATEMENT. "WELL, YOU PAID ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF DOLLARS MORE THAN YOU NEEDED TO," I REPLIED. "YOU CAN GET THE SAME COPY OVER AT THE THRIFT SHOP (AS I KNEW THERE WAS ONE ON THEIR SHELF) FOR FIFTY CENTS." IT WAS IN BETTER SHAPE TOO, AND DIDN'T HAVE A COFFEE CUP RING ON THE DUSTJACKET, AS THE GENTLEMAN'S COPY WAS ADVERSELY MARKED. "IT WAS WRITTEN ON THE TAG THAT IT WAS A FIRST EDITION," HE SAID. "HE WANTED TEN FOR IT." THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE TIP-OFF RIGHT THEN AND THERE. ANY ONE INTERESTED IN OLD BOOKS, SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT "GONE WITH THE WIND" WAS ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED AND RE-PRINTED BOOKS, THAT WENT INTO MANY RE-ISSUES IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS FROM THAT FIRST PRINTING. IT IS WORTH THOUSANDS TO HAVE A MINT CONDITION COPY…..WITHOUT A COFFEE RING ON THE DUSTJACKET.

ALL I COULD SAY TO THE CHAP WAS THAT HIS WAS NOT A FIRST EDITION OR A 20TH, AND THAT HE SHOULD BE CAREFUL HOW HE APPROACHES OLD BOOK ACQUISITIONS IN THE FUTURE. I'VE SEEN THIS HUNDREDS OF TIMES, IN SHOPS OF THOSE ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLE DEALERS, WHO ARE JUST "WINGING IT" WITH PRICES THAT ARE FAR, FAR OUT OF THE BALL PARK. THE EXPERIENCED BOOK COLLECTORS AND DEALERS PROBABLY WOULDN'T BOTHER CORRECTING THESE INACCURATE PRICES, SO UNFORTUNATELY, AND EVENTUALLY, SOMEONE MAY PAY THE ASKING PRICE FOR A WRONGLY IDENTIFIED FIRST EDITION…..AND THEN GET THEIR HEARTS BROKEN BY A GUY LIKE ME.

VINTAGE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW GENERAL DEALERS OVER-PRICE THEIR WARES. MY BOYS BEGAN RESEARCHING VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS, FROM BANJOS, GUITARS, ELECTRICS, BASSES, DRUMS, UKES, AUTOHARPS, AND MANDOLINS, YEARS BEFORE WE HELPED INCH THEM INTO THE RETAIL TRADE…..AND THE OPENING OF THEIR PRESENT MAIN STREET SHOP, HERE IN GRAVENHURST. WE FOUND THEM EVERY REFERENCE BOOK WE COULD, TO BUILD THEM A WORKING LIBRARY FOR REFERENCE. THEY SPENT HOURS AND HOURS SEARCHING THE INTERNET SITES OF INSTRUMENT MAKERS AND COMPANIES, AND DID YEARS OF COMPARISON PRICING, FROM WHAT THEY FOUND IN SHOPS THEY VISITED, AND ONLINE AUCTIONS WHERE THEY COULD SEE HOW PRICES ESCALATED AND WHAT THE INSTRUMENTS EVENTUALLY SOLD FOR. WE STOOD WITH THEM AT MANY LIVE AUCTIONS TO TAKE A SHOT AT GETTING SOME GUITARS AND UKES THAT OCCASIONALLY POPPED UP AT REGIONAL SALES. IT ISN'T THE CASE THAT MY BOYS ARE ANY WISER, OR SMARTER THAN OTHER DEALERS AND COLLECTORS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS. THE POINT IS, HOWEVER, THEY KNOW THEIR TRADE. IF THERE'S SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW, AND IT'S BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION, THEY FOLLOW UP ON THAT DEFICIENCY…….BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE STUMPED BY A CUSTOMER'S QUESTION. THE QUALITY OF THEIR BUSINESS, DEPENDS ON THE BALANCE OF THEIR EXPERTISE. SO WHEN THEY'RE PRESENTED A GUITAR OR DRUM THEY HAVEN'T DEALT WITH BEFORE, IN SOME FASHION, THEY WILL VOLUNTARILY DIVE INTO THE BOOKS, AND ENGAGE ONLINE SEARCHES FOR INFORMATION…..EVEN IF IT'S JUST TO HELP OUT A CUSTOMER KNOW MORE ABOUT AN INSTRUMENT THEY OWN. THEY DON'T SHY AWAY FROM A CHALLENGE BECAUSE THERE'S NO PROFIT ATTACHED. INFORMATION IS POWER. THE MORE THEY KNOW, THE MORE THEY BECOME TRUSTED FRIENDS OF THE OLD INSTRUMENT BUSINESS. THEY DON'T KNOW IT ALL. BUT IF YOU MEET THEM, YOU'LL SOON REALIZE……THEY WANT TO KNOW IT ALL. NOT AS BRAGGARTS BUT AS WELL TUTORED SHOPKEEPERS.

SO WHEN WE'RE OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUSTINGS, WE OFTEN FIND, ESPECIALLY IN THE CO-OPS WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE VENDORS, THAT ONE OR MORE GENERALIST DEALERS, WILL HAVE VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS IN THEIR BOOTHS. OUT OF TWENTY-FIVE WE MIGHT FIND, TWO MAY BE PRICED APPROPRIATELY. ONE WILL BE PRICED THAT THE BOYS CAN AFFORD TO BUY IT, MAKE THE NEEDED REPAIRS, AND STILL FIND A LITTLE PROFIT AT THE END OF THE DAY. MOST OF THESE GENERAL DEALERS HIKE THE PRICE OF OLD INSTRUMENTS "TO THE ROOF," ACCORDING TO SON ANDREW, WHO GETS ENORMOUSLY FRUSTRATED BY SELLERS' GROSSLY INACCURATE PRICING, OF INSTRUMENTS THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND. SOME ARE OVER PRICED BY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS…..NOT TWENTY OR THIRTY BUCKS. SOME ARE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION, WE WON'T EVEN CONSIDER THEM AS "BEATER" GUITARS WE SELL TO SUMMER VISITORS FOR CAMPFIRE SING-ALONGS. DEALERS WHO KNOW US, WILL OFTEN BRING OUT AN ARRAY OF OLD INSTRUMENTS, WHEN WE POP THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, AND IT IS ON RARE OCCASION, THAT WE CAN AFFORD ONE. WHILE WE DON'T HAGGLE, WE WON'T PLUG OUR EARS SHOULD A VENDOR SUGGEST MAKING A "DEAL FOR THE LOT." THAT CERTAINLY OPENS THE DOOR FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE ACTUAL VALUES OF THE INSTRUMENTS, WITH REQUIRED REPAIRS FACTORED IN. SEEING AS MOST OF THESE DEALERS DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SELLING, IN THIS CASE, AND THEY LIKELY DON'T PLAY THE GUITAR THEMSELVES, THEY JUST SEE THESE RELICS (SOME THAT CAN BE SAVED, BUT MANY THAT CAN'T BE SALVAGED) AS A GOOD BET FOR SUBSTANTIAL "PIE IN THE SKY" PROFIT. THEY MAY SELL TO AN INTERIOR DECORATOR FOR THEIR ASKING PRICE, BUT THEY WON'T SELL IT TO A MUSICIAN WHO KNOWS WHAT A WARPED NECK, OR "HIGH ACTION" CAN MEAN TO ONE'S ABILITY TO ACTUALLY PLAY IT…..OR MAKE THE NEEDED REPAIRS.

I'VE WATCHED ANDREW AND ROBERT STOP IN AN ANTIQUE SHOP, EXAMINING THE SELECTION OF VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS, WHISPERING "I DON'T BELIEVE IT, I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT…..WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?" KNOWING THAT WE COME IN FREQUENTLY, AND ALWAYS LEAVE OUR BUSINESS CARDS, THE BEST PLAN WOULD BE TO ASK THEIR APPRAISAL ASSISTANCE BEFORE TAGGING THEM FOR SALE. WHAT THESE VENDORS DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE, IS THAT THOSE KNOWLEDGABLE CUSTOMERS, SEEING THESE KINDS OF GROSS PRICING ERRORS, GET THE GENERAL IMPRESSION, THERE ARE MANY MORE PIECES OF INVENTORY INACCURATELY PRICED…..AND THAT'S NOT THE REPUTATION THEY WANT, I'M SURE. THE HEAD-STRONG AMONGST US DEALERS, DON'T DO THEMSELVES ANY FAVORS IN THIS REGARD. WE OFFER MANY LOCAL SECOND HAND AND EVEN PAWN SHOPS, ADVICE ON VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ASK. WHEN YOU VISIT OUR SHOP, THE BOYS WILL GLADLY DEFEND THEIR PRICING, AND SHOW YOU THE BOOKS AND ADDITIONAL RESEARCH TO CLEARLY SHOW THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE MODEL, BASED ON CONDITION. MANY INEXPERIENCED DEALERS, NOT ONLY GOOF-UP ON BOOK CONDITIONS, WITH THEIR PRICING, BUT REPEAT THE SAME ERROR WITH INSTRUMENTS……NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CONDITION AS A PIVOTAL CONSIDERATION BEFORE ARRIVING AT A RETAIL PRICE. OCCASIONALLY YOU WILL RUN INTO A DEALER WHO KNOWS THEY'RE OUT-MATCHED, BY THE "GUITAR GUYS," AND WILLINGLY OPEN DISCUSSIONS TO FIND A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY PRICE……SUCH THAT THE DEALER GETS A PROFIT, AND THE LADS GET A PROJECT GUITAR TO RESTORE AND RE-SELL, ALSO FOR AN ACCEPTABLE PRICE INCREASE.

IN AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY SECOND HAND SHOP, RUN BY A RATHER ECCENTRIC CHAP (HE WAS ALWAYS VERY FRIENDLY), HERE IN MUSKOKA, WE FOUND A LOVELY 1960'S ELECTRIC, IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, BEING STORED BEHIND THE COUNTER. WE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE OR FOUR TIMES, AND GOT TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER. WHEN I ASKED IF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR, BEHIND THE COUNTER, MIGHT BE FOR SALE, HE LOOKED AT ME AS IF I'D CROSSED THE THRESHOLD OF SOME GREAT PRIVATE PROTOCOL…..THAT HAD NEVER BEEN FLANKED BEFORE. HE LOOKED ME ALL OVER, GLANCED AT MY WIFE TO DETERMINE OUR WORTHINESS TO HOLD SUCH A SPECIMEN OF MUSICAL HERITAGE, AND RELUCTANTLY AGREED THAT IT WAS FOR SALE…..BUT THAT HE WOULDN'T SHOW US UNLESS WE WERE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT ACTUALLY BUYING IT. I'VE RUN INTO QUITE A FEW ECCENTRICS IN SHOPS LIKE THESE, SO I WAS READY FOR HIM. HE GAVE ME THE GUITAR, AND WITHIN A FRACTION OF A SECOND, I'D ALREADY PASSED IT OFF TO ANDREW FOR A ONCE-OVER. I THOUGHT THE GUY WAS GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK. NOW AT THAT POINT, WITH THE BOY'S EDUCATION IN VINTAGE GUITARS, THEY BOTH KNEW THE VALUE OF THAT GUITAR BEFORE IT CROSSED THE COUNTER-TOP. THEY WERE JUST EXAMINING IT FOR MODEL IDENTIFICATION, CODES, AND CONDITION….SUCH AS IF A BROKEN NECK HAD BEEN REPAIRED, A TAIL PIECE WASN'T ORIGINAL, OR A FLOATING BRIDGE MAY HAVE BEEN FROM ANOTHER GUITAR, AND NOT AN ORIGINAL PIECE. WHEN THE SHOP OWNER REGAINED HIS COMPOSURE, AT A KID HOLDING A VALUABLE (UNPRICED) GUITAR, HE ASKED ME WHAT IT WAS WORTH. WHEN WE'RE INTERESTED IN BUYING SOMETHING, AT THAT MOMENT, IT'S A LITTLE AWKWARD OFFERING AN APPRAISAL. IF SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO SELL IT, WELL, THAT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO ASSESS A PRICE. THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY WE, AS DEALERS, CAN ONLY PAY A FRACTION OF THE VALUE TO ALLOW FOR REPAIRS AND RESALE.

ANDREW JUST TOLD THE VENDOR THAT IT WAS A NICE PIECE AND THAT WHILE IT DID NEED SOME MINOR REPAIRS, WHICH HE COULD DO, HE'D BE HAPPIER TO HEAR WHAT THE ASKING PRICE WAS AS AN INITIAL FIRST STEP. THE GUY WOULDN'T GIVE A PRICE. WHAT HE ASKED, WAS FOR ANDREW TO GUESS THE PRICE HE WANTED FOR IT. YOU READ CORRECTLY. THE SHOP KEEPER WANTED MY SON TO READ HIS MIND, TO COME UP WITH THE ASKING PRICE. "IF YOU GUESS CORRECTLY, THE NUMBER I'M THINKING, I'LL SELL IT TO YOU." WELL, WE DON'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT, AND JUST HANDED HIM BACK HIS GUITAR, AND BACKED OUT THE DOOR SLOWLY, SO AS NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN ANY OTHER MIND READING REQUEST. I'M SURE HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE SUCH INTRUSIVE PEOPLE AS US, HIT THE ROAD. SOMEONE TOLD ANDREW, WHO HAD BEEN IN THE SAME SHOP, ROUGHLY THE SAME STORY……SAYING "I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT GUY." HIS BEHAVIOR COST HIM A SALE. I'M PRETTY SURE HE DID THE SAME THING WITH OTHER SO-CALLED RARE ITEMS IN THE SHOP. YOU KNOW, I'M PRETTY ECCENTRIC MYSELF…..AS A WRITER, NOT AS A BUSINESS OWNER. I CAN HOWL LIKE A WOLF HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, AND MY NEIGHBORS KNOW IT'S JUST "TED LETTING OFF A LITTLE STEAM," AFTER WRITING ALL DAY. WHEN IT COMES TO THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, NOPE, I'M ANYTHING BUT ECCENTRIC WHEN IT COMES TO PROFIT AND LOSS, AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MY LADS "MAINSTREETING IT." THE GUITAR I MENTIONED ABOVE, BY THE WAY, WAS WORTH ABOUT $400. I THINK THE BLOKE FIGURED IT WAS WORTH ABOUT THREE TIMES MORE. BASED ON CONDITION AND THE NEED FOR NEW STRINGS, WE WOULD LIKELY HAVE PAID $250. IN FAIRNESS, IT WAS A NICE COLLECTIBLE GUITAR. WE JUST COULDN'T SEE EYE TO EYE, YOU MIGHT SAY….OR MIND TO MIND AS HE APPARENTLY WISHED.

MORE TIPS ABOUT BUYING AND SELLING ANTIQUES IN FUTURE COLUMNS. THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG.